SPOILERS -- Cute, shortie gangsta flick from 1934. Back in the day when the mobs were running everything, and rival bosses had it in for each other. This one is complicated by the fact that McGowan (Richard Barthelmess) has fallen for rival mobster's sister Joan ( Ann Dvorak). The actors had both been in the business for quite a while, so the acting was just fine. Barthelmess had been making silents for YEARS. McGowan meets up with Abigail Ardsley, who has been a rich, old recluse for many years. We flash back to her story, where she too has a sad love story to tell, and she wants McGowan to learn from her mistake. There are some big flaws in the script here, but the basic story is a good one, if you can overlook some big problems. The ending, and the reason Abigail gives for telling him he MUST face Joan's brother and force a confrontation. as we find out, that didn't work out well for her, either! The end of the court trial is just preposterous. One witness that contradicts all the other witnesses. and the fact that the case is dismissed after hearing testimony... why did the jury not get to deliberate?? There's one naughty love scene where they are out in the garden during the flashback.... this must have been made just before the Hays Code kicked in... that scene wouldn't have been allowed later on. It's a fun watch, if you can overlook some big issues. Directed by Alan Crosland, who had done the Jazz Singer! Crosland also died quite young, a couple years after making this one... bad car accident.
Review of Midnight Alibi
