In the early 40s, Lloyd Nolan made a series of serio-comic, low budget crime thrillers as private detective Michael Shayne. Two of them were later remade as grander movies, The Brasher Doubloon and Narrow Margin.
But since, by 1946, Nolan had moved on to bigger and better things, and there was still a perceived need for inexpensive Michael Shayne-type movies, Red Barry was engaged to do an imitation. He keeps the Irish background, wise guy attitude, and even casually drops glamorous girl friends as the original did. Oh, and he even casually solves crimes.
Other reviewers have described the plot, so there is no real need to repeat that. It seems, however, that the makers of the French Connection borrowed a plot device from this film.
But since, by 1946, Nolan had moved on to bigger and better things, and there was still a perceived need for inexpensive Michael Shayne-type movies, Red Barry was engaged to do an imitation. He keeps the Irish background, wise guy attitude, and even casually drops glamorous girl friends as the original did. Oh, and he even casually solves crimes.
Other reviewers have described the plot, so there is no real need to repeat that. It seems, however, that the makers of the French Connection borrowed a plot device from this film.