Confidential
Cast & Crew
Edward L. Cahn
Donald Cook
Evalyn Knapp
Warren Hymer
J. Carrol Naish
Herbert Rawlinson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After government agent Dave Elliott makes a daring parachute jump in order to capture kidnapper Dutch Crowley, he is forced to shoot when Crowley turns his gun on Dave's partner, Bob Arnold. In the dead man's pockets, the two agents find the business card of Van Cleve, a disbarred lawyer. Back at the Department of Justice, Dave's boss, Chief Inspector Arthur Preston, assigns him to gather enough evidence to convict Van Cleve. As Crowley's death has been kept out of the papers, Dave poses as the kidnapper in order to gain access to Van Cleve's home, and, with Bob hiding outside as back-up, Dave shows Van Cleve the ransom money, and prepares to arrest him when he accepts it. When Bob comes to Dave's aid, however, he is shot and killed by Lefty Tate, a criminal who had been visiting Van Cleve, and in the confusion that follows, the crafty Van Cleve and Lefty escape. A few days later Dave learns that Van Cleve has been killed with the same gun that killed Bob, and realizing that Van Cleve was just one of many criminals working for the unknown boss of the biggest gambling racket in the country, Dave vows to avenge Bob's death by apprehending the "Big Guy." Posing as Duke Turner, a down and out ex-con, Dave meets Terence "Midget" Regan, a small time hood and seller of lottery tickets. Dave suspects that Midget is working for the racket and wins his confidence by defending Midget in a hold-up staged by fellow G-men Nash and Connor. Midget then takes Dave to the Cafe Granada, introducing him to Maxine Travers, a tough-talking, but kind bookkeeper, and Walsh, the manager of the Granada and of the lottery game, who promptly gives Dave a job. Maxine talks Dave into taking her out to dinner, and on their way out of the Granada, they pass Lefty, who recognizes Dave, but is unable to place his face. At the restaurant, Dave runs into an old college chum, Jack Keaton, Jr., and later that evening, after Jack has too much to drink, Dave drives him home and meets his father, J. W. Keaton. The following day, Dave, suspicious of Lefty's behavior, tails his car and sees him dump the body of lottery winner Giuseppe Giacomelli. Dave later learns that the gun used to kill Giacomelli was the same one that killed Bob, and although he wants to go after Lefty for the murders, he realizes that he must stay undercover until he can get the "Big Guy." Upon learning that the Argentine Oil Company is a front, Dave has his fellow agents stake it out while he continues to gather information at the Granada, where Maxine, shocked and upset over the death of Giacomelli, tries to convince him to get out of the gambling business. Unable to break his cover, Dave refuses to quit, and disgusted with his lack of morals, Maxine leaves and refuses to speak to him. Later, Dave finds out the date and time of the gambling racket's meeting, but as he prepares to join the other agents, he is waylaid by Lefty, who suddenly recognizes Dave as a G-man. As Hanover, one of Lefty's cohorts, prepares to shoot Dave, Jack, who had dropped by the office to visit him, attempts to disarm Hanover and is shot by Lefty, who is shocked to learn that Jack is the son of J. W. Keaton, the "Big Guy" himself. Keaton arrives at the Granada after receiving a phone call from Lefty, who pins Jack's murder on Dave, prompting Keaton to order Dave killed. When Midget sees Lefty force Dave into an office at gunpoint, he attempts to rescue him, but is knocked out. Dave wrestles the gun away from Lefty just as the other G-men raid the Granada. Dave announces that Keaton is the "Big Guy" and, despite his protestations of innocence, Keaton is hauled off to jail, along with Lefty and the rest of the gang. Dave then tells Midget, with whom he has become friends, that he'll make sure the judge gives him no more than thirty days, and when Midget asks him about Maxine, Dave replies that she's in for life--with him.
Director
Edward L. Cahn
Cast
Donald Cook
Evalyn Knapp
Warren Hymer
J. Carrol Naish
Herbert Rawlinson
Theodore Von Eltz
Morgan Wallace
Kane Richmond
Clay Clement
Reed Howes
James Bush
Edward Hearn
Allan Bridge
Earl Eby
Lynton Brent
Monte Carter
George Chesebro
Lillian Castle
Mary Gwynne
Edwin Argus
Allen Connor
Frank Marlowe
Donald Kerr
Jack Gustin
Tom Brower
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The plot synopsis and onscreen credits were taken from a cutting continuity deposited at the NYSA.
