Producer: William Jacobs. Copyright 23 July 1942 by Warner Bros Pictures, Inc. A Warner Bros-First National picture. New York opening at the Palace on the bottom half of a double bill with Here We Go Again: 11 October 1942. U.S. release: 25 July 1942. Australian release: 6 December 1945 (sic). 51 minutes. Censored to slightly less than 50 minutes in Australia.
SYNOPSIS: Ex-convict newspaper photographer is persecuted by a suspicious detective.
COMMENT: One of the best "B" thrillers ever made, this one's a re-make of the 1933 James Cagney starrer, Picture Snatcher. Doubtless stock footage is used here but it's not all that easy to detect because James Van Trees has skilfully attuned his camerawork to the lighting, grading and contrast of the original's Sol Polito.
The present script is certainly taut and rapid-paced. With the help of an extremely competent cast, including Jackie Gleason as a convict, D. Ross Lederman has directed in an astonishingly fast and inventive manner. Studded with thrilling action sequences, the picture develops into a thrillingly spectacular climax.
SYNOPSIS: Ex-convict newspaper photographer is persecuted by a suspicious detective.
COMMENT: One of the best "B" thrillers ever made, this one's a re-make of the 1933 James Cagney starrer, Picture Snatcher. Doubtless stock footage is used here but it's not all that easy to detect because James Van Trees has skilfully attuned his camerawork to the lighting, grading and contrast of the original's Sol Polito.
The present script is certainly taut and rapid-paced. With the help of an extremely competent cast, including Jackie Gleason as a convict, D. Ross Lederman has directed in an astonishingly fast and inventive manner. Studded with thrilling action sequences, the picture develops into a thrillingly spectacular climax.