Gang Busters (1942) Old Time Serial (OTS)

The "war against crime" carried on via radio by the "Gang Busters" program transfers to the screen in the form of a chapter play that Universal turns loose to score a solid hit as entertainment for the lovers of hard-hitting action, crime and cops-and-robbers chasing of the brand which dispenses thrills. The story has been streamlined for thrill action, and the arch-criminal (a genius with a twisted soul and powers to bring supposed "suicides" back to life by a cute trick all his own) is tailored to order for purposes of baffling the police. A far better than run 'o the mill cast has been assembled to play the parts written into this episode thriller — and thriller it is by dint of smart plotting and cleverly generous use of such emotion stirring sounds as screaming police sirens; the piercing shrieks of automobile tires skidding over city pavements; the clatter and roar of subway trains that rush noisily through tunnels used by the criminals as a hiding place; the barking and chatter of pistol and machine gun shots. For plot there's the simple idea of a criminal bent upon making such fools of the city administration, and a very likeable detective, that they will get out of there. Murders, robberies, bank hold-ups are run off with clock-like precision, and the entirely unorthodox method of the criminals further baffles the detective and his men. For romantic interest there's a girl reporter and her male co-worker always on the job. Good camera effects of airplanes diving to destruction, an auto hurtling into the abyss of an elevator shaft; a car speeding into collision with other autos — these are incidents which respectively bring to a close each of the three initial chapters. Kent Taylor, as the detective; Robert Armstrong as his aid; Ralph Morgan as the criminal Professor Mortis; Irene Hervey as the newspaper girl, and others comprise a fine cast. Production and direction are notably good.