Million Dollar Pursuit

Norman Budd is a small-time crook who keeps talking about the big-time deal to singer Penny Edwards. When a ring of keys to the chief cashier of a department store falls into his hands, he sees his opportunity. Before he can execute his plans, he finds he has partners. When the heist goes off smoothly, they try hiding out. But Police Lieutenant Michael St. Angel, who is also sweet on Miss Edwards, is on the case, and the gang starts squabbling.

Budd's line readings aren't the best in the world, but there are some good actors here, including Grant Wither, Rhys Williams and Paul Hurst, as well as up-and-coming Mike Conrad and Denver Pyle. The script is fast-moving and this Republic one-hour movie is well handled by R.G. Springsteen. Springsteen was a skilled director of westerns, but he rarely got out of the genre. Even so, it's a superior movie from Republic outside their comfort zone.

Miss Edwards rarely got a major role on the big screen, outside a few Roy Rogers westerns while Dale Evans was expecting. She is just about perfect here, a bright clean beauty who shows she is a capable actress, a good singer and someone whose career needed the big break. Like so many, she never got it.