Persons in Hiding (1939) User Reviews

"Tantalizing" ...

[AAdaSC · 5/10 · 9 September 2023]

... is the name of the perfume that plays a central role in the development of this film and in its denouement. Patricia Morison (Dot) wants the good things in life and sets off in pursuit of fur coats and perfume when she encounters petty thief J Carrol Naish (Freddie) and becomes the brains behind a Bonnie & Clyde-style crime spree across the US.

The film zips by and is ok to watch, the main reason being Morison who plays her role well. She is a lead female character that you can identify with and hope she gets away with things as she plays a strong woman and not a cry-baby sentimental soft-hearted namby-pamby type. She is a strong character which is something I like to see. This is in contrast to Lynne Overman (Pete) who plays the main detective on her tail. He plays it like a clown providing some unwanted and unnecessary humour and always ready with a smart-Alec comment. I can't stand these types of characters. Even when he is in mortal danger, he still has time to crack a quip. What nonsense. This is ok for James Bond films where the audience is essentially laughing along with Bond knowing that no harm can really come to him and allows his litany of wisecracks to have a comedy value. This guy Overman is no James Bond.

I remember a terrible song from 1983 called "Tantalize" by Jimmy the Hoover (unsurprisingly never to be heard of again) which could be the music to accompany a modern-day advertising campaign for the featured perfume in this film. It's a good link to make and demonstrates my good knowledge of music but I bet it won't be made.

She wants to go places but doesn't want to hitchhike.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 25 July 2017]

The future original star of Broadway's "Kiss Me Kate", Patricia Morison, gets her big break in film by playing a struggling hairdresser with an attitude, determined to get ahead no matter what it takes, and when the opportunity strikes, takes the wrong road to get there. This is a story by none other than J. Edgar Hoover, focusing on a Bonnie and Clyde like duo where cold as ice Morison manipulates a small time crook (J. Carroll Naish) into getting everything she wants, even going as far as marrying the sucker. Paramount's answer to MGM's "Crime Does Not Pay" shorts was a short lived series of programmers which were fast moving and no nonsense, more detailed at over an hour than the 10-20 minute add-on's during the golden age, and in most cases, absolutely fascinating.

Morison, sort of a young version of Gale Sondergaard, is riveting in this, not only emulating Bonnie Parker, but really a predecessor to Peggy Cummins in the film noir classic "Gun Crazy". It's fun watching her go from cynical hairdresser (stealing a bottle of expensive perfume from a wealthy client and belittling a struggling boyfriend) to major sociopath whose only vulnerability comes when thinking of her aging mother (Leona Roberts). It's those times that become fascinating as Morison shows both resentment and compassion to her mother, basically using Roberts and her father (Richard Carle) for a hideout against their will.

Certain elements stretch the imagination, but it's so fast moving and gritty (even insinuating that the elegant looking Morison must turn to prostitution to get cash while holding onto $200,000 of marked money) that it's easy to overlook some of the obvious flaws. The series went from looking at the supposed lives of Bonnie and Clyde to the Barker gang (with Blanche Yurka an unforgettable ma). Look quickly for early 1930's star Helen Twelvetrees in her last film, basically a walk-on, and William Frawley as one of the agents whom Morison manages to suddenly overpower. Lynn Overman and William Henry are the two lead agents on the case, and in one scene, Morison plots a horrific end for Overman that has to be seen to be believed. Fascinating B picture that deserves to be rediscovered!

early Gun Crazy

[happytrigger-64-390517 · 6/10 · 10 August 2017]

"Persons in Hiding" must had some influence on Gun Crazy : same kind of editing and shooting during hold ups and cars chases, the superb Patricia Morison plays a strong and dominating character like Peggy Cummins (she even has a similar silhouette sometimes), and we hear twice "gun crazy". Nice B Paramount Bonnie and Clyde movie, but sadly not available.

Patricia Morison Was Sensational in Film Debut.....

[kidboots · 8/10 · 25 November 2013]

....but the way she was handled by Paramount was disgraceful!!! She was signed as a back up for a potentially temperamental Dorothy Lamour (she could sing and dance) and advertised as the studio's "new white hope" following her impressive debut but then she was dropped to secondary roles - until she quit films for Broadway and "Kiss Me Kate"!!

Even though purportedly written by J. Edgar Hoover, the book "Persons in Hiding" was bought by Paramount who planned several program films based on how the FBI brought various gangsters (Ma Barker etc) to justice. First cab off the rank was "Persons in Hiding" which dealt with the charismatic Bonnie and Clyde, fast turning into a romanticized duo but far from mythologized, as they would be in the 1960s. During their reign of terror Hearst publications had really built them up but now Hoover came along to debunk the myth. He showed them as a couple of very small time crims, she a tough dame who wanted pretty dresses and expensive perfume, he a petty ex-con and the instant attraction they had for each other.

Benefiting greatly from a screenplay by Horace McCoy (who wrote the gritty depression novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They") Morrison plays Dot, a small town beautician who thinks big - bigger than her hick mechanic boyfriend and when they are held up by desperate robber, Freddie Martin (J. Carroll Naish, another great performance), Dot hitches her wagon to Freddie, seeing his life as exciting and with potential for instant riches. Unlike the other reviewer I thought Morison and Naish worked very well together - Naish, just a great character actor and Morison with so much potential was a real acting find.

Don't know about the real Bonnie and Clyde but according to this film Freddie, who is content to be an anonymous small timer, is putty in Dot's steely hands. She tries to instill belief in him that he can be a big time gangster but when she tries to team up with a more sophisticated gang (a young Dennis Morgan is the leader) they are laughed at - until Dot initiates a crime wave, with her ringing up the local papers to give "Gunner" Martin celebrity status. Suddenly the big time gang want to get involved and kidnapping is now the name of the game with a $20,000 ransom - Dot (nice girl!!) is all for killing the victim but for once weak Freddie stands firm and forbids it. Could be a big mistake as the victim is able to describe an old farm house with a wobbly step and a friendly dog named Toby. The scene is set for an old fashioned shoot out with G-Man (a big deal is made of Freddie coining that phrase)(Lynne Overman) posing as a travelling peddler and Dot's poor mother, an innocent victim, being captured by the police. In a bid to free her mother Dot is quite prepared to sacrifice Freddie but, unlike the real robbers, both Dot and Freddie are captured alive with the police realising Dot is the brains behind the duo - her love of expensive perfume her downfall!!

Very surprising to see Lynne Overman head the cast and if you think Helen Twelvetrees is given a break, think again. She only has two lines in what is a very thankless role!!

Opposite of Heathcliff and Kathy

[GManfred · 31 May 2012]

"Persons In Hiding" is a middling attempt to bring J. Edgar Hoover's book to the screen. Apparently there was a series of films based on the same book. This one is a pretty standard story of two crooks on the run from the police in the 'Bonnie and Clyde' tradition. They commit robberies throughout the Southwest and then try to hide out to avoid capture. Patricia Morison is quite good as the 'Bonnie' character who enlists her cohort so as to steal and live the good life. She is the main focus of this picture and carries it well.

But I was not prepared for J. Carrol Naish in the role of Clyde. He is, in effect, the co-star and her love interest. It is tough to envision Naish as a romantic leading man, and I could not believe my eyes as they embrace and he gives her an impassioned BFS (big fat smooch). This from Geppetto the shoemaker, or a film noir stool-pigeon? I wondered if they handed out air sickness bags in theaters in preparation for this scene. It is only for those with strong constitutions. I felt the total lack of chemistry between the two had a direct effect on the storyline.

In sum, she was good but he was miscast. The rest of the cast consists of Hollywood backbenchers, including Lynn Overman as the FBI Agent and William Frawley, who always livens up any scene he is in. Also in bit parts are Richard Denning and Dennis Morgan, the latter under his real name. This was clearly a 'B' from Paramount, and as with many B's it might have been better with a more attractive cast - especially the male lead.

Inert

[boblipton · 4/10 · 10 November 2023]

Patricia Morison is working when two-bit stick-up man J. Carrol Naish comes in to grab $30. Miss Morison thinks she can make something of him, so they go off together, get married, and begin a string of bank robberies. Soon, thanks to her calling up the papers and making sure people spell his name right, he's got a reputation. But the crooks know she's the brains behind the operation, so Dennis Morgan offers her half the take if she will take charge of a kidnapping he has in mind. She does, which brings in the FBI in the person of Lynne Overman.

It's based on a book by the same title by J. Edgar Hoover. I suppose that's why the crooks are dull, slovenly, and are pushed around easily by Miss Morison, who hardly seems to be trying. Unfortunately, the movie is likewise dull and inert for its length; Overman nods off in a car while tracking the bad guys. Fortunately, the FBI has lots of energetic, smart men and a big machine that can sort through a very large number of fingerprints, so what chance does a gang of half a dozen dullards have? Other performers wasted here are William Frawley, Helen Twelvetrees, and William Collier Sr.

Before GUN CRAZY

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8/10 · 24 November 2022]

Well, not exactly the very very same scheme but nearly. At least as much interesting as the Joseph Lewis's masterpiece. And beware, director Louis King gives us here, one of his best picture, when he worked for Paramount Pictures, as Robert Florey too; productions very close to the Warner Bros ones of this period. Short, sharp, tense. And as bonus some touching scenes, such as this one where the evil couple visit the old ma and pa of the male fugitive. So, enjoy this Louis King's film; there are some of them too also from this director. Enjoy, because later in his career, Louis King has lost all his ambition.