BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS

US, 1933, 73 minutes, Black-and-white.
Bette Davis, Pat O' Brien, Lewis Stone, Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert.
Directed by Roy del Ruth.

Bureau of Missing Persons is one of short films produced by Warner Brothers in the early 1930s, with Roy del Ruth, a regular director. It is a star vehicle for Pat O’ Brien, wisecracking, solving cases, the guy. Lewis Stone is the sympathetic head of the bureau. Allen Jenkins is a detective with Ruth Donnelly and Hugh Herbert in solid support. Bette Davis has a smaller role, on the missing persons list but also as a woman accused of murdering her husband.

1. Warner Brothers programmer from 1933, strong cast, the dialogue, brief running time, black-and-white photography, life in the police precincts, in the American city, musical score?

2. The title the police department, the police involved, files and searches? Personalities? Dealing with the public?

3. Lewis Stone as the head of the department, his kind disposition, managing personnel, dealing with his staff? Dealing with Butch? Assignments for Butch?

4. Butch Saunders, his personality, overbearing, suspects, violence, not wanting to transfer? His relationship with the head of the department? His relationship with his ex-wife, her continually turning up, giving her money, suspicious of her? His search for the missing violinist, searching in the streets, finding the boy, bringing him back, his oppressive parents, their exploiting their son, money, condemning him to long practice? Butch and his regrets about bringing him back?

5. Norma her impact, reporting the missing husband, Butch and his suspicions, arranging the funeral, her curiosity and turning up? Also being wanted for murder? A missing person? The interactions with Butch? The setup of innocence or guilt?

6. Belle, relationship with Butch, regularly turning up for the money, her boyfriend, Butch and his violent treatment her?

7. The partner, shrewd, his cases, finding the missing person?

8. Supporting cast in the office with Ruth Donnelly and her typical style, Hugh Herbert toning down his mannerisms?

9. An enjoyable film of its time, fast paced, wisecracking and fast paced dialogue?