Alice May Movies

This average South Seas romance -- based on a novel by Harold McGrath -- was the second film featuring stage star Alfred Lunt. Playing opposite him is fashion model Mimi Palmeri in her acting debut (and, possibly, swan song -- after this film, she was apparently never heard from again). Lunt plays Howard Spurlock, who takes money from his uncle which he believes to rightfully be his. Fearing that the police are on his trail, he travels to the South Seas, where he takes to drink out of guilt. In Canton he becomes so ill that he requires attention, which is provided by Ruth Enschede (Palmeri), the naive daughter of a missionary (Charles Kent). Spurlock, believing that circumstances have compromised Ruth, marries her and only later does he learn to love her. He finds work through a doctor (Wallace Erskine), and straightens himself out. Spurlock's aunt (Marie Day) tracks him to the South Seas and informs him that his uncle never pressed charges and that he was never in trouble in the first place. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Handsome Conway Tearle stars in this crime drama. Even from childhood, Billy Clifford (Jerry Devine) has shown a streak of good -- he saved another boy (Bobby Connelly) by taking the rap for a crime and wound up in reform school himself. Now, as an adult (played by Tearle), Clifford is a gambler, but he's the only one in town who plays fair and square. This still doesn't win any points with Mayor Morely (James Seeley) when Clifford falls in love with his daughter, Helen (Faire Binney). But then Helen is kidnapped by Clifford's partner to keep his gambling hall from being raided. Clifford comes to the rescue, but he has to kill a man to save Helen. Although Clifford has now won Morely's admiration, it looks like he will still wind up in prison for life. But Governor Talbot (John P. Wade) -- who was the boy he had saved so many years before -- gives him a pardon. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Missing Millions was inspired by "A Problem in Grand Larceny", one of the many "Boston Blackie" stories by Jack Boyle. David Powell plays Boston Blackie, a reformed criminal. Blackie is hired by society thief Alice Brady (who receives top billing) to square accounts with the man (Frank Losee) who sent her innocent father to prison. The two team up to ruin the scoundrel financially. In true pre-production code fashion, the miscreant avoids scandal by taking his own life. None of the Boston Blackie B-pictures of the 1940s were quite this coldblooded. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi