Directed by James P. Hogan
Perhaps best known as the dapper, urbane, martini-swilling leading man of the '30s Thin Man films, William Powell's first film role in Hollywood came by way of this fast-paced crime drama produced by B. P. Schulberg for his own independent production company.
Powell, who welcomed the chance to play a sympathetic character after being typecast in villainous roles, plays star newspaper reporter Scott Seddon. Seddon is called on by the paper's editor to infiltrate a gambling ring that is trying to blackmail his daughter. Lola (Clara Bow). While Lola falls for Seddon. he in turn falls for Rita (Alyce Mills). a gang member toughened by the hard knocks of her early childhood. The film's female lead. Alyce Mills. seems to have had a short-lived but busy career, making 17 films in a three-year period, before retiring in 1928 and drifting into obscurity.
On the other hand, Bow, the former Brooklyn beauty contest winner, became a Hollywood legend. At the time, Bow was under contract to Schulberg who cast her in a dizzying number of low-budget films like this one before she rocketed to stardom with IT two years later. According to Bow biographer. David Stenn ("Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild"), "like all of Schulberg's Preferred Productions, the film was 'state-righted' and thus followed no general release pattern; and since Clara Bow soon became a huge star, it was still playing in theatres as late as 1927 to capitalize on [her celebrity)."
–Mimi Brody
Universal. Producer: B.P. Schulberg. Scenario: John Goodrich. Cinematographer: Allen Siegler. Cast: Alyce Mills, William Powell, Clara Bow, Frank Keenan.
35mm, silent, 68 min.
Preserved from two 35mm nitrate prints. laboratory services by The Stanford Theatre Film laboratory, YCM laboratories. Special thanks to: David W. Packard, David Stenn.
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