A MAN BETRAYED
US, 1941, 84 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Frances Dee, Edward Ellis, Wallace Ford, Ward Bond.
Directed by John H. Auer.
A Man Betrayed is a little-known John Wayne film, made soon after Stagecoach and at the same time as such films as The Long Voyage Home. John Wayne was at the beginning of his popular career. However, this would not appear to be the fact from evidence of this film, though he is a genial presence with a slight touch for comedy.
The film is about city corruption, a nightclub called The Inferno, a political boss who won election by corruption, by doing deals with people and putting pressure on them. The boss, played by Edward Ellis, has a vivacious daughter, played by Frances Dee.
When a young man is murdered in The Inferno Club, there is a cover-up and the declaration of suicide. His friend comes from the countryside, is mocked as a country bumpkin, yet asks a whole lot of questions which eventually overthrow the corrupt empire. He also, of course, manages to fall in love with the boss's daughter.
The film is in the vein of the social comment films of the 1930s but it is no Mr Smith Goes to Washington. It is a mixture of politics, drama, screwball comedy.
1. A little-known John Wayne film? His hero status? Serious touch, comic touch, romantic touch?
2. A film of the early 40s, social concern, political corruption, police cover-ups? The honest man coming from the country and exposing corruption? The title?
3. The focus on the city, Boss Cameron and his hold over his henchmen? Engineering elections? The pressure on the police, on the media? The Inferno Nightclub and his getting money from the casino? The shooting? His suggestion of suicide, the cover-up?
4. His character, his daughter and her love for him, her making the distinction between the boss and her father? His meeting Lynn, lying to him? The gradual exposure, his being forced on the defensive? The newspaper headlines? The antagonism with the manager of The Inferno Club? The police? Nobody wanting to support him, his giving himself up to the police, the new headlines, Lynn defending him?
5. Lynn, coming to the city, awkward, his self-deprecation? The fight with the butler, getting in to see Cameron, his meeting Sabra, the night out at The Inferno? His investigations, shooting the gun and nobody hearing it, his being mistaken for a gangster? The continued dating of Sabra, his staying in the city? Questions, exposure, denunciations? His radio advertisement? His success in his crusade, coming back to see Sabra, fighting with the butler and getting another black eye? Their driving to the country - and all the cases packed?
6. Sabra, romantic heroine, knowledge about her father's shady deals, making the distinction between boss and father? Her nervousness with Lynn, going out with him? Her hostility towards him and his attack on her father, getting over it, the support of her father, the romantic ending?
7. The owner of the nightclub, his offsider, the shooting of the young man? Gambling, the rake-off for Cameron? The police? The newspaper editors, the reporters, the editor wanting to go gardening but hearing of the scoop about Cameron giving himself up?
8. A film of its time - and reflecting the social attitudes and politics?
