YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FOREVER

US, 1942, 77 minutes, Black and white.
George Brent, Brenda Marshall, Gene Lockhart, Roscoe Karns, Eduardo Ciannelli, Paul Harvey.
Directed by Joe Graham.

This is a mixture of the 1930s screwball comedy along with the very popular genre of newspapers and fast talking reporters.

It opens with a planned execution with a journalist, Laurie, a rather severe Brenda Marshall, in attendance – but she faints and misses out on the news that a pardon has been granted. But she files that the execution took place. In the meantime, managing editor, Steve Mitchell, George Brent, has taken a gamble that a pardon would be issued. The result is that Laurie is assigned to the column of advice for the lovelorn.

In the meantime, another story comes up, about a gangster who steals rations of sugar and rubber needed for the war effort. There are complications when the author of a book about corruption is killed, his wife disappears. The journalists go to a centre for the lonely where weddings are performed. Laurie Gets herself tangled with the smugglers, but Mitchell gets his story, along with his photographer, (Roscoe Karns) and a good story is prepared about the gangster, and after a car crash, he is arrested by angry Army personnel.

This is one of George Brent’s better films, in a period when he appeared in The Fighting 69th, The Old Maid and Dark Victory.

1. A slight but entertaining mixture of screwball comedy and newspaper investigation and action?

2. Warner Bros production values, black-and-white photography, the cast? For a supporting feature?

3. The execution, Laurie and her presence, upset, fainting, missing the pardon, filing the false story? The consequences, her doing the advice column? Steve and his explanation and dedication to journalism and doing the column?

4. Steve, his place in the office, Gates and his fussiness, Major Turner and responsibility for the paper? The two headlines, Steve and his twitching ear and hunches, his reaction to Laurie’s story? His love her, her refusal to be married?

5. Greer, his empire, his thugs, the visit to the office, Steve and his interview, the unflattering photo, implication of his crimes? His plans, the sugar and rubber? His connection with Robelink, using the centre, the smuggling, Robelink coming to him, wanting money, having the manuscript?

6. Steve, being demoted to the column, his great success, and fan mail?

7. The visit to the centre, the marriages, the celebrant and his enthusiasm, his book, being interviewed by Steve, giving him the book? Suspicions? The dancing? Laurie and her seeing the door, seeing the smuggling, the pursuit? Steve and his standing outside Greer’s window, hearing the discussions, confronting Robelink, finding out where the manuscript was?

8. The visit to the widow, her fortune-telling, giving the information about the manuscript?

9. Hurrying to the cemetery, the security guard laughing at the radio program, getting the information, pursued by Greer? Getting the manuscript, getting the truck, Mac and his driving, Greer and his pursuit, the range of trucks, the crash, Greer and his arrogance, the Army personnel, his arrest?

10. An entertainment, with the atmosphere of World War II?