EYES OF THE UNDERWORLD

US, 1942, 61 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Dix, Wendy Barrie, Lon Chaney Jr, Lloyd Corrigan, Don Porter, Billy Lee, Marc Lawrence, Edward Pawley.
Directed by Roy William Neil.

A lot of action going on in the just over one hour running time of this supporting feature. The setting is 1942, the entry of the US into World War II. A particular focus is on the need of rubber and the sequestering of used cars by the government and the transferring of the rubber to the war effort. As in the American gangster tradition, there is exploitation of stealing cars and a black market in rubber.

Within this context, the focus is on the head of the police in the small town, played by Richard Dix. He is an upright man, his wife dead, bringing up his young son – and wanting to resign from his office to spend more time with his son, who is frequently cared for by his devoted secretary, Wendy Barrie.

With suspicions about rackets in the town, and inspector is sent incognito to examine the situation and try to find culprits, suspicion on the chief.

Actually, the chief of local police and the mayor are in on the deal is and inform each other about the inspector. They also hire a criminal and pay him off to compromise the chief, bringing up his past career and his being arrested for some embezzlement and spending time in prison. The criminal is to pressurise the chief to back off and then to be allowed to escape.

There are some emotional complications, especially when the chief seems to be abducted but is taken to a celebration party, the whole town not wanting him to resign. There is also the issue of his son.

It emerges that the chief did spend some time in jail, served his time and has committed himself to the betterment of situations.

The inspector is attracted to the secretary, suspicious of the chief, but discovers enough of the truth to take part in a dramatic setup and exposure – the chief of police and the mayor being unmasked.

Significant amongst the cast is Lon Chaney Jr as the friend and protector of the chief, who has shared his time in jail, is very protective, even willing to be violent in his pursuing of those who want to undermine the chief.

The film was directed by Roy William Neil, veteran director of many short supporting features in the 30s and 40s, especially a number of the Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.