Archie Mayo was a reliable Warner Bros. contract director who made a lot of good films at the Warner lot, but this has to be regarded as one of his lesser efforts. The plot is simple--an actor who will do anything to help clear his sister of a murder charge--resorts to impersonation but leaves behind a clue that gives away his identity to the police.
When in disguise, EDWARD G. ROBINSON looks like an entirely different person and even manages to keep his accent under cover. MARY ASTOR has trouble with a part that requires her to look as though she's under hypnosis most of the time--managing to give barely a hint of expression to her face no matter what's happening around her. It's definitely not one of her better roles. MAE CLARKE, on the other hand, has a more spirited role as a lower-class actress, girlfriend of Robinson who treats her like dirt.
All of it leads toward a nice ending that wraps up the whole story neatly while conforming to the production code that requires a murderer to be punished for his deeds, however contrived that ending might be.
When in disguise, EDWARD G. ROBINSON looks like an entirely different person and even manages to keep his accent under cover. MARY ASTOR has trouble with a part that requires her to look as though she's under hypnosis most of the time--managing to give barely a hint of expression to her face no matter what's happening around her. It's definitely not one of her better roles. MAE CLARKE, on the other hand, has a more spirited role as a lower-class actress, girlfriend of Robinson who treats her like dirt.
All of it leads toward a nice ending that wraps up the whole story neatly while conforming to the production code that requires a murderer to be punished for his deeds, however contrived that ending might be.