Gangster saga set in the Emergency Hospital - Police Division. Rather than showcasing the gangster's charismatic persona, this picture depicts the events that take place at a charity hospital serving the community populated with those gangsters. No James Cagney here but this film bears the unmistakable imprimatur of the early thirties: Wise-cracking telephone operator (Kitty Kelly), when asked for a date of a bus ride, replies "Brother, can you spare the dime?" The joint is populated with reporters, like Slug (Johnny Hines), who pry stories out of the doctors with promises of gin. It comes as no surprise that the characters make easy references to the morgue.
Dr. French (James Dunn) is the hospital's prize surgeon, who romances platinum blonde nurse Ms. Blaine (Shirley Grey) while on duty, that is, until platinum blonde patient Mary Dolan (Gloria Stuart) arrives unconscious. Dr. French decides that Mary requires a personal 24/7 vigil because this strikingly beautiful woman is "different" and no one can find the usual dirt on her. Mary is "society" who let herself become mixed up with gangster Peter Lawton (William Harrigan). Lawton's heavy, Sammy (Jack La Rue) intends to visit the unfortunate Mary at her bedside. Sure, he gave Mary "a terrible beating" and he has a gun planted under that bouquet of flowers, but it's okay for him to see the quarantined Mary because they are "pals." This is a hospital where a gangster can ask for a drink upon using it as a hide-out. The Girl in 419 has pre-code elements, but even when those die down the film is memorable for its politically incorrect 30's sensibilities: Dr. French tells the police to "gag" nurse Blaine if she won't shut up, to which the officer responds, "Wouldn't I like to? I've got a missus that talks too much." Recommended although you might find yourself wishing for more Kitty Kelly and less hokey Dunn-Stuart romance which ends the picture.
I have become a fan of David Manners, who has a supporting role here as Dr. Nichols. It is sometimes commented that he is dull or not given enough to do. But ask yourself, did his character do what I think he did to bring the film to an end? If so, then this film is an example of pre-code because no justice was meted out for that act. Furthermore, if true, Dr. Nichols was no dull guy!
Dr. French (James Dunn) is the hospital's prize surgeon, who romances platinum blonde nurse Ms. Blaine (Shirley Grey) while on duty, that is, until platinum blonde patient Mary Dolan (Gloria Stuart) arrives unconscious. Dr. French decides that Mary requires a personal 24/7 vigil because this strikingly beautiful woman is "different" and no one can find the usual dirt on her. Mary is "society" who let herself become mixed up with gangster Peter Lawton (William Harrigan). Lawton's heavy, Sammy (Jack La Rue) intends to visit the unfortunate Mary at her bedside. Sure, he gave Mary "a terrible beating" and he has a gun planted under that bouquet of flowers, but it's okay for him to see the quarantined Mary because they are "pals." This is a hospital where a gangster can ask for a drink upon using it as a hide-out. The Girl in 419 has pre-code elements, but even when those die down the film is memorable for its politically incorrect 30's sensibilities: Dr. French tells the police to "gag" nurse Blaine if she won't shut up, to which the officer responds, "Wouldn't I like to? I've got a missus that talks too much." Recommended although you might find yourself wishing for more Kitty Kelly and less hokey Dunn-Stuart romance which ends the picture.
I have become a fan of David Manners, who has a supporting role here as Dr. Nichols. It is sometimes commented that he is dull or not given enough to do. But ask yourself, did his character do what I think he did to bring the film to an end? If so, then this film is an example of pre-code because no justice was meted out for that act. Furthermore, if true, Dr. Nichols was no dull guy!