A talented gambler moves up from small town action to big city, where a string of blondes can't be trusted.
Not so much a gangster film as a Robinson charm fest. Here he trades the snarl of Little Caesar (1930) for an easy smile and a ready quip. Sure he's working the wrong side of the law, this time as a big-time gambler, but there's nary a tommy gun in sight. Besides, the law sort of comes and goes when it comes to enforcement. And get a load of that string of blonde cuties, always getting him in trouble. No wonder his real affection drifts in Cagney's direction. Yes, it's that Cagney, and catch him camping it up in the movie's first part. He's got a secondary role here, despite Warner's movie poster. That probably resulted from Public Enemy (1931) hitting it big at about the same time.
I like the early part best, when the super-confident Nick (Robinson) gets fleeced in a crooked poker game by a guy named Hickory Short (great name). Of course Robinson being Robinson, retribution is soon on the way. In many years of old movies, I don't recall this Pre-Code production appearing. I'm guessing one reason is the patronizing racism, where rubbing a Black Man's head amounts to rubbing a rabbit's foot. Plus they're stuck with names like Snake-eyes and Suntan. Too bad.
All in all, the movie's a light-hearted crime feature where no one gets killed, and the blondes keep on appearing. Lucky Nick. Now if he can just figure which ones are on the level.
Not so much a gangster film as a Robinson charm fest. Here he trades the snarl of Little Caesar (1930) for an easy smile and a ready quip. Sure he's working the wrong side of the law, this time as a big-time gambler, but there's nary a tommy gun in sight. Besides, the law sort of comes and goes when it comes to enforcement. And get a load of that string of blonde cuties, always getting him in trouble. No wonder his real affection drifts in Cagney's direction. Yes, it's that Cagney, and catch him camping it up in the movie's first part. He's got a secondary role here, despite Warner's movie poster. That probably resulted from Public Enemy (1931) hitting it big at about the same time.
I like the early part best, when the super-confident Nick (Robinson) gets fleeced in a crooked poker game by a guy named Hickory Short (great name). Of course Robinson being Robinson, retribution is soon on the way. In many years of old movies, I don't recall this Pre-Code production appearing. I'm guessing one reason is the patronizing racism, where rubbing a Black Man's head amounts to rubbing a rabbit's foot. Plus they're stuck with names like Snake-eyes and Suntan. Too bad.
All in all, the movie's a light-hearted crime feature where no one gets killed, and the blondes keep on appearing. Lucky Nick. Now if he can just figure which ones are on the level.