Monday, March 25, 2013

Movie review - "The Midnight Club" (1933) **

British films of the 1930s were wild about jewel thieves, they were popping up everywhere (I shouldn't be too snotty - the modern day equivalent is drug dealers). There was an American movie but feels British: it's got a group of suave thieves who run a nightclub and are terribly smug, led by Clive Brooke, despite bring investigated by Scotland Yard. Then George Raft turns up as a gangster and gives this movie a badly needed jolt of energy.

Unfortunately it turns out that Raft is an undercover US agent, when it badly needs another, tougher bad guy. Helen Vinson is bland as the girl but Brooke is effective. There are one or two bright moments but it's all achingly familiar.

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