Unpredictable little character drama from Monogram. Doris (Merrick) is an innocent young woman from a mean-spirited family, so we begin by rooting for her and her situation. Looking to get away from family, she meets handsome Danny (Lowery). He's an apparent rover with a mysterious past and no apparent job. Trouble is she's beguiled by him even though he comes and goes like the wind. So she takes a job at a shady nightclub he frequents hoping he'll return. Meanwhile, she puts off her old bandleader boyfriend Ray (Quillan), and the more rooted life he offers. Thus, what will happen to her now that she's entered a new, darker world with unknown connections.
The story's told in flashback from an abruptly mysterious opening, while the ending is also abrupt casting a cloud over the conventional happy ending. A distinctive difference in the narrative is the threads we're left to fill in-- such as the relationship between shady Lou (Paiva) and Danny, or even how Danny supports himself. I think this realistic murk tells much of the story from Doris's limited pov rather than sloppy scripting or editing.
Actress Merrick's excellent in her sympathetic role without getting sappy, while Lowery certainly looks the slickster part even if he more or less walks through his role. I did, however, get the several blondes mixed up at times. And get a load of the 40's fashions with their gunboat hats. Still, I wish the nightclub dancing had included some lively jitterbug instead of the stately ballroom stuff. Note too, that no mention is made of the war even though its 1945 and no servicemen are seen among the eligible guys.
Anyway, in my little book, the 60-minute flick is almost a sleeper with a number of unusual touches. And, oh yes, if you're invited to Doris's bilious family for dinner, Don't Go!
