Review of Million Dollar Ransom

Now that prohibition is over, recently released booze baron Edward Arnold doesn't have a business to come back to, and rather than get involved in other rackets, prefers to be broke but on the straight and narrow. Along cones wastrel Phillips Holmes who in order to keep his uppity socialite mother Marjorie Gateson from marrying a no good social climbing gigolo decides to arrange his own kidnapping. Arnold's gal pal Winifred Shaw and daughter Madge Evans step in to keep other rackateer from butting in just to keep daddy safe. Simple enough plot seems to have been edited down and is missing some key information, but the script is pretty decent, the atmosphere a mixture of light and melodramatic, and a few funny character performances. Winifred Shaw gets to since a few songs, and Andy Devine gets the majority of the laughs as Arnold's chauffer who drives him around in a taxi. Based on a Damon Runyeon story, this is typical of its kind, and gives Around a boistrous and bombastic character to easily root for. Holmes never really gets to see his character fully developed, although by pairing him with Arnold's very young but sensible daughter, it makes it clear that he'll get on the right track as soon as he gets rid of his mommy issues. He's best in the opening sequence, intruding on Arnold and Devine by jumping into the cab and refusing to get out.