The Crime Does Not Pay short subjects were usually pedantic lessons on the evils of crime and how the police inevitably get their man because they've got science and good detective instincts on their side. This last one of the series is one glorious exception, it could have been a feature film. And as a short subject could have qualified for a Twilight Zone episode.
Barry Nelson who had a much better career on stage than he did on film stars in The Luckiest Guy In The World. He starts out pretty unlucky because he's a compulsive gambler who picks losers all the time. Embezzlement leads to murder and what seems a successful cover-up. But only seems so because this guy did get away with the crime, but the ending is out of a Twilight Zone episode.
This short subject was nominated for an Oscar in that category, but lost to a short subject called A Boy And His Dog and do I have to tell you what that's about. Sentimental won out over the surreal that year.
Still this short subject is one of the best around.
Barry Nelson who had a much better career on stage than he did on film stars in The Luckiest Guy In The World. He starts out pretty unlucky because he's a compulsive gambler who picks losers all the time. Embezzlement leads to murder and what seems a successful cover-up. But only seems so because this guy did get away with the crime, but the ending is out of a Twilight Zone episode.
This short subject was nominated for an Oscar in that category, but lost to a short subject called A Boy And His Dog and do I have to tell you what that's about. Sentimental won out over the surreal that year.
Still this short subject is one of the best around.