An odd film. The story of two romances - college lecturer Frederic March whose girlfriend Miriam Hopkins doesn't want to get married, and crim George Raft and his girl Helen Mack. The love of Mack and Raft makes Hopkins decide to marry Raft.
Why did Paramount make this? I read a contemporary review which wondered if the reels were out of order. And it feels like it. You didn't need the March/Hopkins stuff - really the meat is in the Raft/Mack romance, the love of a woman for a convict who loves her but can't help being bad.
It's actually one of Raft's best performances - he seems natural, intense - the director was James Flood, who I'd never heard of. Mack is effective too and Hopkins has some fine moments - she can't sustain her Miriam Hopkins erratic-ness but sometimes hits the nail on the head. I'm not a March fan - he does his ham intensity well enough. There are some interesting dimly lit scenes which feel emotionally strong.
But it's a silly story.
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