OFFICER 13

US, 1932, 60 minutes, Black-and-white.
Monte Blue, Lila Lee, Charles Delaney, Robert Ellis, Frances Rich, Joseph W Girard, Seena Owen, Mickey Rooney, Jackie Searle.
Directed by George Melford.

Officers 13 is a curiosity item from the early 1930s, small-budget, its being released in the year when Grand Hotel won the Academy award and showed how big budget filmmaking could succeed.

The action is set in Los Angeles, a focus on two policeman, played by Monte Blue, a popular hero from the silent era, especially in westerns, and Charles Delaney. They are good friends, and their families are friends. In a car pursuit, Charles Delaney is off the road and is killed. The driver is a local wealthy criminal and his passenger a socialite who is persuaded to commit perjury, the judge also corrupt, and the driver is found not guilty and, protesting, Monte Blue is sent to a small station outside Los Angeles.

The early part of the film as the drama about Monte Blue, the woman in the case, the trial, his outburst, the role of the judge, the acquittal. Later he approaches the head of the police who has not helped and is about to resign but encourages Monte Blue to continue his investigations. The witness also changes her mind about confessing.

The latter part of the film shows an illegal club, a police raid, the young woman who has changed her mind and given information to the police, some violent confrontations, especially the killing of the manager of the club.

The film ends happily with a family dinner.

(The film features an early role for Mickey Rooney, known this time as Mickey McGuire?.)