PAROLE INC

US, 1948, 71 minutes, Black and white.
Michael O' Shea, Turhan Bey, Evelyn Ankers, Virginia Lee.
Directed by Alfred Zeizler.

Parole Inc is an interesting variation on a thriller. Michael O’ Shea portrays a government agent who agrees to go undercover to expose those involved in the prison and parole racket, bribing members of the parole board to free criminals.

The film opens with him in hospital, injured in bed, dictating his report, so that the audience knows that he has been injured but that he survives. The rest of the story is told in flashbacks – his going undercover, creating a character, with prison connections and robberies, finding villains in the club run by Evelyn Ankers, and backed up by her lawyer boyfriend, Turhan Bey. When one of the prisoners is released, the undercover agent strikes up a friendship with him as well is his girlfriend, a sympathetic Virginia Lee. The former prisoner decides to go it alone, is unmasked by the bosses and killed.

In connection with the governor and the head of police, another prisoner is paroled at the behest of the group but there is a complication and he is not arrested as had been expected as he leaves the prison. Which leaves the agent rather stranded, but he covers himself with a series of phone calls to unmask the corrupt members of the parole board, and everybody converging on a farm where he is bashed but, ultimately freed and the group arrested.

1. Interesting crime drama from the late 1940s, the United States and the attack on crime, undercover agents, the work of officials?

2. American cities, government, police agencies? Clubs? Prisons and parole boards? Crime syndicates? The outdoor spaces and farm? The musical score?

3. The structure of the film, Richard Hendricks and his injuries, dictating the story, the audience knowing that he survived but with injuries? His dictating his story? The pacing, the language he used?

4. His work as an agent, his being recruited from Washington, the governor and the police Commissioner? The exploitation of parole boards? His decision to go undercover, his identity, the setup? His going to the city, visiting the bar, the conversation with Glenda, Newton and the other men in the bar, playing cards, winning? Ingratiating himself? Most believing him, the suspicions?

5. Seeing the parole board in action, the president, Mr Jones, the society lady and her wanting to give people a chance, the official and his hostility, condemning the exploitation? The Reverend and his justice? The hearings, the decisions, the casting vote of the president?

6. Palmer, his presentation to the board, his being released, his relationship with Glenda and her devotion to him, working in the club? His being well-received? His role as a collector? Jo Jo and her payment for him, collaboration with Rodescu?

7. Hendricks, his false identity, the men going through his room, finding the evidence that he was a robber? His being accepted, his plans for a further robbery, their joining in? His discussions with Palmer, offering him the money, information about the parole board? Going to the building, the fifth floor, with Jo Jo, getting the name Barney?

8. Jo Jo, her personality, running the club, her connections, Barney Rodesscu as the suave lawyer, ruthless? Her occupying Hendricks while his apartment was being searched?

9. The plan for the release of Cooper, the payments, the connections? His being released, the plan for him to be arrested, the papers coming through too late? The criminals picking him up?

10. Hendricks, going to the farm, meeting the former owner, the welcome? Jo Jo and Barney and their arrival? Hendricks and the phone call, getting Glenda to send out the telegrams to the board, in Barney’s secretary’s name? The two arriving, suspicions? Hendricks following? Putting the tape recorder in the room? Going in, identifying them for the tape? Cooper’s arrival, denouncing Hendricks? The attack?

11. The police, the discussion, going to see Glenda, rescuing her from Newton and his violent attack? Phoning the police, the going to the farm? Finding the hidden room, the group bashing Hendricks? The final arrests? Mission accomplished?