Really weird drama, there's nothing quite like it I've ever seen. It's based on a story by Norman Krasna, but was rewritten by Virginia Van Upp, and directed by Fritz Lang with music by Kurt Weill and stars George Raft and Sylvia Sidney.
The Krasna touch is most obvious in the setting and the set up - it takes place in a department store and has a Krasna-esque touch of fantasy: Harry Carey, who runs the store, hires ex-cons to give them a chance. One of them is Raft and the other Sylvia Sidney.
Sidney is lovely and sweet in a role that perfectly suits her and she has pleasing chemistry with Raft. It's well directed by Lang and is consistently interesting. I love the bit where Sidney and Raft's hands touch as they pass each other on an escalator. There's a weird bit at the end where Sidney crunches the numbers to show crime doesn't pay. Sidney takes a relatively racy shower.
The story is a mess - I'm not sure if this was Krasna or Van Upp. It feels very contrived Sidney doesn't mention she's on parole too - why would he care? Why keep it a secret? This kicks off the plot - he thinks she's having an affair and is jealous and its uncomfortable to watch. Raft is tempted to go back to a life of crime. There's scenes where characters watch people sing Weill songs - or sing them.
Robert Cummings is one of Raft's old cronies and he sticks out like a sore thumb, with his good looks among all these craggy old character actors.
I can't call this a success - but it's different, and imaginative. One of the more unusual pictures Raft made.
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