While many people think 'B-movie' means bad movie, the term actually originated to describe the second and lesser film played at a double feature. The A-picture was the longer, more costly and more prestigious film in most cases and the B was made cheaper, more quickly and ran from 50-70 minutes...with most clocking in at about 60. So, when you look at "Midnight Alibi" on IMdb, you'll notice it's 58 minutes in length...clearly a B from Warner Brothers. Despite this, it's actually a very, very good film.
The story begins with Lance McGowan (Richard Barthelmess) returning from a cruise. During this trip, he met and fell hard for Joan (Ann Dvorak)...but they each go their separate ways. Soon you learn that Lance is a gangster....and his nemesis is Angie (Robert Barrat). This is a SERIOUS problem because soon you learn that he has a sister....and it's Joan!! Clearly, any sort of romance between Lance and Joan is going to be an uphill battle...especially when Angie orders some of his men to kill Lance. But they miss and Lance takes shelter in an old woman's mansion. What's next? Well, see the film.
What I liked most about this film is Lance's scenes with the old lady, Abigail Ardsley (Helen Lowell). It is very charming...as is the flashback scene when Abigail befriends Lance and tells him her life story. Overall, a film that managed to rise about the reputation of most Bs, as the story is quite well written as well as the acting. Well worth seeing...and rather charming for a gangster tale!
The story begins with Lance McGowan (Richard Barthelmess) returning from a cruise. During this trip, he met and fell hard for Joan (Ann Dvorak)...but they each go their separate ways. Soon you learn that Lance is a gangster....and his nemesis is Angie (Robert Barrat). This is a SERIOUS problem because soon you learn that he has a sister....and it's Joan!! Clearly, any sort of romance between Lance and Joan is going to be an uphill battle...especially when Angie orders some of his men to kill Lance. But they miss and Lance takes shelter in an old woman's mansion. What's next? Well, see the film.
What I liked most about this film is Lance's scenes with the old lady, Abigail Ardsley (Helen Lowell). It is very charming...as is the flashback scene when Abigail befriends Lance and tells him her life story. Overall, a film that managed to rise about the reputation of most Bs, as the story is quite well written as well as the acting. Well worth seeing...and rather charming for a gangster tale!