BIG TOWN AFTER DARK

US, 1947, 69 minutes, Black-and-white.
Philip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Richard Travis, Ann Gillis, Vince Barnett, Joe Sawyer, Robert Kent, Charles Arnt.
Directed by William C.Thomas.


This is the third film in a series, each with a title Big Town. The setting is a newspaper, a focus on two reporters who rival each other but who are attracted to each other. Philip Reed plays the suave reporter, Hillary Brooke the vivacious crime reporter.

In this story, the niece of the proprietor, played by Charles Arnt, comes to town, asks for a job at the paper. She is quite precocious – and is later revealed as something of a femme fatale, linking up with the proprietor of a gambling club, marrying him, trying to blackmail her uncle for a ransom. However, the gambler is the jealous type and is suspicious of his chauffeur.

In the meantime, Philip Reed is attracted by the niece and takes her out, goes to the club, is bashed by the proprietor – returning, suspicious, agreeing that the paper should have a campaign against such gambling clubs. He is threatened by the proprietor, discovers the truth about the young woman, walks into something of a trap, to be framed for murder of the chauffeur by the gambler. And the young woman is wounded – but is taken to hospital and lives.

In the meantime, Hillary Brooke has written a novel, wants time off, goes on some rounds, links with Louis, who hangs around and has many contacts in the criminal world.

William C. Thomas was a prolific producer with his partner, William Pine – nicknamed the ‘two dollar Bills’ for their large output, small budget, good returns.