Undercover Agent
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Howard Bretherton
Russell Gleason
Shirley Deane
J. M. Kerrigan
Maude Eburne
Oscar O'shea
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Postman William Trent races from the mail train to join his fiancée, Betty Madison and her father Thomas, an unemployed actor, before Betty goes to work as a hat check girl in Bartel's betting parlor. Bartel's business has been bad lately, in part due to the popularity of the sweepstakes. Consequently, he decides to set up a phony sweepstakes and sends his man Slicker to France to mail back receipts for the Monte Carlo Sweepstakes to make the scam look legitimate. When ticket sales take off, Thomas becomes a ticket agent to pay his bar tab. Meanwhile, Trent passes the postal inspector's test and takes Betty to Patrick Murphy's pawnshop to buy an engagement ring. While they are there, the shop is robbed and Trent uses his service revolver to apprehend the robber. Although Trent is hailed as a hero, he has violated postal regulations by carrying his revolver while off duty, and consequently, is suspended for ninety days by his supervisor, Mr. Graham. When Trent hears about the new sweepstakes, he becomes suspicious and offers Graham his services as an agent. Although Graham is unable to commission Trent as an agent, he asks to be kept informed. Trent follows Bartell's runner, Pussyfoot, to the betting parlor, where he creates a scene to gain entrance to Bartell's office. Once inside, Trent sees the records and reports back to Graham who sets up a raid for the next day. When Thomas tells his future son-in-law about his new income, Trent tells him about the raid to prevent him from selling more tickets. Drunk, Thomas goes to the bartender and demands his money back, and Bartel's men take him back to headquarters where they prepare to flee. As Betty calls Graham, Trent and Thomas turn the tables on the gang and hold them until Graham arrives with his agents to take them into custody. Trent is then reinstated and immediately promoted to postal inspector so that he and Betty can get married.
Director
Howard Bretherton
Cast
Russell Gleason
Shirley Deane
J. M. Kerrigan
Maude Eburne
Oscar O'shea
Ralf Harolde
Selmer Jackson
Ray Bennett
Ralph Sanford
Dick Elliott
Lee Phelps
Walter Wills
Max Hoffman Jr.
Crew
Louis Brown
E. B. Derr
Frank Dexter Sr.
Howard Dillinger
Scott R. Dunlap
Theodore Joos
Arthur Martinelli
Frank Melford
Abe Meyer
Martin Mooney
L. John Myers
Milton Raison
Russell Schoengarth
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although onscreen credits attribute the original story to Martin Mooney, memos from E. B. Derr's office contained in the production file on the film at the AMPAS Library credit Mooney with original screenplay. The Variety review credits Russell Schoengarth with film editing, although screen credits only list Howard Dillinger. Actors Shirley Deane and Russell Gleason also co-starred as romantic juvenile leads in the Jones Family series. Modern sources add Dave O'Brien to the cast.
