Friday, December 7, 2018

The Headline Woman (1935)

Who runs the city? The police or the press? When the newspapers rip into new police commissioner Frank Desmond (Conway Tearle) he cuts off the supply of information. At first the plucky reporters led by Bob Grayson (Roger Pryor) pump a rather dumb flatfoot Hugo Meyer (Ford Sterling) who they help climb the ladder in return for tips.

The gambling kingpin Clarkey (Morgan Wallace) is involved with various bumpings off and illegal gambling. When Myrna Van Buran, the daughter of Bob's boss, (Heather Angel) is accused of murdering Clarkey Bob helps her out to get the story... or is he in love?

A very entertaining if haphazard film with a number of plot tangents to help fill the time. The ensemble of reporters is full of wise-cracks, 30s slang and some sharp dialogue. It is rather breakneck, at times frenetic but seldom boring. Pryor and Angel make a good, though unlikely, double act.