PAPER BULLETS/GUNS INC
US, 1941, 72 minutes, Black and white.
Joan Woodbury, Jack La Rue, Linda Ware, John Archer, Alan Ladd.
Directed by Phil Rosen.
Paper Bullets is a small budget supporting feature – and an early film for Alan Ladd who was soon to become a star at Paramount with This Gun for Hire and a 20 year career with such high points as Shane.
The film is fairly routine, the focus on the young girl whose father is shot as a stool pigeon, goes to an orphanage, make friends with two men who are influential in her adult life. She is sacked from her job because of her father’s reputation. She is dating a playboy who is involved in hit run accident and her manoeuvres her into taking the blame and her going to prison.
Most of the film is about revenge, the young woman disguising herself and robbing people, getting enough money to challenge the father of the playboy his public face is for police reform. She insinuates herself into his group and, ultimately, exposes him.
Subplots include her roommate who wants to be a singer, has a patron in a gangster was a friend at the orphanage, and an engineer who wants to marry the woman.
Alan Ladd as a supporting role as a young man sent in undercover to infiltrate the gangs.
Phil Rosen directed many small budget features but was noted as a cinematographer with Thomas Edison voice in 1912 Miracle Man.
1. The title? The explanation about gangsters, crime, reform, control – the ballot?
2. American cities, 1941, the background of World War II?
3. The opening, the orphanage, Rita, Elliott and Mickey, foreshadowing the future, Elliott and his making the plane, Mickey and his wanting control?
4. The war, Rita at her job, sharing the apartment with Donna? The background of her father, stool pigeon, his being shot? Her being discriminated against because of her father? Her losing her job? The meeting with Elliott, his wanting her to work with him?
5. Rita and her relationship with Harry De Witt, playboy, driving recklessly, the hit-and-run? His wealthy father, the lawyer, the plan, Rita set up, the failure in the court, her going to jail? Coming out, her friends?
6. Mickey, the clubs, Donna, her singing, the audition, getting the job?
7. Rita, wanting revenge on De Witt? The wig, the hold-up, robbing the man, the headlines, her robberies? Getting the money? Rita and Donna and their moving? Mickey and his help?
8. The police, being condemned, De Witt and his wanting reform? His colleagues? Crime bosses?
9. Jimmy, being sent under cover, his codename, the connections, friends, information? The tough guy? Reporting back?
10. Rita, her plan, De Witt and his radio speech and campaigning, Rita on the radio, with De Witt, his colleagues, making the plan, nomination for mayor?
11. Rita and Elliott, his wanting to marry her, the ceremony?
12. Jimmy being exposed, the criminals, the chase and the car, the crash, the reporting of deaths in the paper? Donna and Jimmy? Her grief? Having wanted him to give up his criminal ways?
13. The arrests, in the courts, Jimmy and his testimony, reassuring Donna? The guilty findings, Rita achieving her revenge – and Elliott prepared to wait for her?
