Ellis Island

Romantic comedy mystery mess where the guy who plays Mr Hood, you know Darla's father in the Little Rascals shorts, is a guard on Ellis Island. Romantic entanglements mix with the attempt of gangsters to free one of their number and get stolen money hidden on the island.

At least I think thats what it was about since it isn't very good and more annoying than interesting. Actually it doesn't make a great deal of sense and I found myself not caring almost immediately. I shut the film off after 20 minutes much of which involved scanning the DVD to get to the next interesting bit.

3 out of 10. Only for those desperate at 3am for something to watch thats not an infomercial

A group of bad guys has a plan to hide a million dollars and divvy it up later. They go to jail for ten years and then go about trying to find the money. There are a series of complications. They are, without a doubt, some of the most clumsy people I've ever seen. How they even thought they could pull this off with their intellect is beyond believability. Anyway, the hero finds himself in the middle of a relationship with "the woman" and tries to find her not culpable. There is this ridiculous finale with some goofus who is always trying to get back to his fiancée. Anyway, it's about as bad as it gets. There is no effort to be rational. The characters are so weak and the silly subplot is so unwatchable that this just falls on its face. I know that comedy has changed. Thank God!

"Ellis Island" is a delightful comedy with a fairly accurate recreation of the Immigration Station at Ellis Island as it operated in the 1930's. The story centres around the INS Deporting Squad and some ruthless gangsters led by Jack LaRue. Top comedian was Donald Cook, while humourous romance increased the charm of the film.

Peggy Shannon was a pretty Follies show girl, who along with Sylvia Sidney was recruited by Paramount as insurance against Clara Bow, who was starting to become "difficult". (She had been worked so hard by Paramount in the 20s that by the early 30s her nerves were worn to pieces.) Sylvia Sidney became a legend but Peggy Shannon??? Unfortunately by the mid 30s she already had a drinking problem.

"Ellis Island" is a ho-hum crime drama. A criminal is sent to jail for a bank robbery. When he is released 10 years later at Ellis Island, he is met by some rival gangsters who hope he will take them to the money that has never been recovered.

Winsome Peggy Shannon plays Betty, the jailed gangster's niece, who along with Donald Cook and Kipp (who is on his way to his own wedding)try to solve the mystery of the missing money. Johnny Arthur, who usually played timid, henpecked types was Kip, Cooks offsider.

Betty Compson plays Adele, his bride to be.

Jack La Rue played one of the gangsters.

When Betty is kidnapped by rival gangsters because she happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, the film's action speeds up. The film is over so fast - with not even a kiss and fade out from the two stars - Donald Cook and Peggy Shannon.

"Ellis Island" was the last picture to be released by the Invincible end of the Chesterfield-Invincible combine, perhaps the greatest producers of B-movies in the 30's (and whose name, as you can see, lives on in mine). The first three-quarters of the film are typical Chesterfield: dim lighting, few retakes (look for some actors to steal glimpses at the camera), and scenes shot on claustrophobic, indoor sets. Then for the climax, the film suddenly shifts outdoors, like a breath of fresh air. This to me is the exact opposite of what happened in the Italian classic "Shoeshine" to be made a decade later. Yes, the film's title might disappoint those who were expecting a rags-to-riches immigrant's tale. But no Chesterfield fan should be without this one. And if you are one of those who are just beginning to discover the wonderfully entertaining canon of Chesterfield-Invincible, "Ellis Island" is one of the films to start with. Enjoy!