SPECIAL AGENT – 1949
This low budget programmer was made by the Pine-Thomas outfit for release through Paramount Pictures. William Pine and William Thomas were specialists at producing low rent fare. They were known to be tight with a buck and some of their work is really not very good. Having said that, they were successful as their films always made a profit. This particular film was directed by William Thomas.
The sleepy little burg of Santa Clara is more or less, a dull place, a minor stop on the railway to L.A. Stationed in Santa Clara is Railway cop, William Eythe. Eythe spends his time wishing something would happen, and hitting on Kasey Rogers. Rogers is the daughter of train engineer Walter Baldwin. Baldwin runs the local train to the big city and back.
Eythe's wish for some action happens in a big way. The train is held up and Baldwin and three train employees are murdered. The train was carrying $100,000 in payroll cash. The two men who held up the train, George Reeves and his hothead brother, Paul Valentine, take the cash and hotfoot it into the hills. They have a car stashed in order to complete their getaway.
Unfortunately for them, their car breaks down and they go to plan B. They have put in supplies at an old abandoned mine for such an emergency. They stash the bag with the money nearby, then, hide out while waiting for the heat to chill.
By the time the Police and Railway cop are notified of the robbery and murder, the trail has gone cold. The Police call out the dogs and every available man but can't catch a real break. They find the crook's car, but it turns out to be stolen. They do find a copy of WAR AND PEACE in the back of the car along with a pair of pants.
The Police and Railway dicks drop off the book and such clues as they have at the crime lab. They visit all the book stores of all the nearby towns to see if they can turn up a lead. Luck is on their side as one store did sell a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They get a description on the men and start checking all the local stores etc. They quickly turn up more leads on Reeves and Valentine.
The crime lab soon comes up with possible locations of the men off timber slivers etc in the pants. The Police and Eythe are soon checking all the local ranches and lumber camps. They strike gold as the sketches of Reeves and his brother are recognized. An all points is quickly put out on the two murderers.
By this time, several weeks have passed since the killings and robbery. The brothers come down out of the hills leaving the cash hidden. The last thing they expected was to be front page news, and to see their faces plastered everywhere.
Reeves, has the hots for local gal, Carole Matthews, who he pays a visit to. The man picks the same time as Eythe and the local Sheriff are arriving. There is a brisk gun battle and Reeves just barely escapes. The two brothers split up and agree to meet in a few days to collect the cash before trying for somewhere out of state.
Again, the Police catch a break when several young boys find the cash bag while out hiking. Eythe and the Police take the cash, but leave the money bag stuffed with newspaper. They then hide out and keep an eye on the cash hiding place.
Sure enough, Reeves shows and grabs up the cash bag and hides in the mine. Shortly afterwards Valentine also shows. The two open the bag and find the newspapers. Valentine, who is quick to anger, and is the one who shot the railway workers, accuses Reeves of stealing all the cash. There are punches thrown and the two roll around the mine floor. This tussle ends when Reeves goes down dead with a knife in his chest. The Police now enter, Valentine pulls his gun but is the loser in the exchange of lead. The case is closed.
George Reeves would become famous as television's SUPERMAN. Eythe never became the star many had thought he would. He started out in A productions at 20th Century Fox . Films like, "The Oxbow Incident" "Wing and a Prayer', "The House on 92nd Street led nowhere. He was soon working his way down the ladder to B films and television. He was out of the business by 1954, 11 years after his first film.
While by no means a top film, it does get the job done if you are looking for a quick, 71 minute crime film.
This low budget programmer was made by the Pine-Thomas outfit for release through Paramount Pictures. William Pine and William Thomas were specialists at producing low rent fare. They were known to be tight with a buck and some of their work is really not very good. Having said that, they were successful as their films always made a profit. This particular film was directed by William Thomas.
The sleepy little burg of Santa Clara is more or less, a dull place, a minor stop on the railway to L.A. Stationed in Santa Clara is Railway cop, William Eythe. Eythe spends his time wishing something would happen, and hitting on Kasey Rogers. Rogers is the daughter of train engineer Walter Baldwin. Baldwin runs the local train to the big city and back.
Eythe's wish for some action happens in a big way. The train is held up and Baldwin and three train employees are murdered. The train was carrying $100,000 in payroll cash. The two men who held up the train, George Reeves and his hothead brother, Paul Valentine, take the cash and hotfoot it into the hills. They have a car stashed in order to complete their getaway.
Unfortunately for them, their car breaks down and they go to plan B. They have put in supplies at an old abandoned mine for such an emergency. They stash the bag with the money nearby, then, hide out while waiting for the heat to chill.
By the time the Police and Railway cop are notified of the robbery and murder, the trail has gone cold. The Police call out the dogs and every available man but can't catch a real break. They find the crook's car, but it turns out to be stolen. They do find a copy of WAR AND PEACE in the back of the car along with a pair of pants.
The Police and Railway dicks drop off the book and such clues as they have at the crime lab. They visit all the book stores of all the nearby towns to see if they can turn up a lead. Luck is on their side as one store did sell a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They get a description on the men and start checking all the local stores etc. They quickly turn up more leads on Reeves and Valentine.
The crime lab soon comes up with possible locations of the men off timber slivers etc in the pants. The Police and Eythe are soon checking all the local ranches and lumber camps. They strike gold as the sketches of Reeves and his brother are recognized. An all points is quickly put out on the two murderers.
By this time, several weeks have passed since the killings and robbery. The brothers come down out of the hills leaving the cash hidden. The last thing they expected was to be front page news, and to see their faces plastered everywhere.
Reeves, has the hots for local gal, Carole Matthews, who he pays a visit to. The man picks the same time as Eythe and the local Sheriff are arriving. There is a brisk gun battle and Reeves just barely escapes. The two brothers split up and agree to meet in a few days to collect the cash before trying for somewhere out of state.
Again, the Police catch a break when several young boys find the cash bag while out hiking. Eythe and the Police take the cash, but leave the money bag stuffed with newspaper. They then hide out and keep an eye on the cash hiding place.
Sure enough, Reeves shows and grabs up the cash bag and hides in the mine. Shortly afterwards Valentine also shows. The two open the bag and find the newspapers. Valentine, who is quick to anger, and is the one who shot the railway workers, accuses Reeves of stealing all the cash. There are punches thrown and the two roll around the mine floor. This tussle ends when Reeves goes down dead with a knife in his chest. The Police now enter, Valentine pulls his gun but is the loser in the exchange of lead. The case is closed.
George Reeves would become famous as television's SUPERMAN. Eythe never became the star many had thought he would. He started out in A productions at 20th Century Fox . Films like, "The Oxbow Incident" "Wing and a Prayer', "The House on 92nd Street led nowhere. He was soon working his way down the ladder to B films and television. He was out of the business by 1954, 11 years after his first film.
While by no means a top film, it does get the job done if you are looking for a quick, 71 minute crime film.