In Paris, American sculptor Richard Dix (as Paul Dover) tries to retrieve some scandalous love letters sent by his beautiful sister Frances Mercer (as Ellen). He fails in the attempt, but Mr. Dix tracks the love letters to a Los Angeles museum. Donning dark glasses, Dix disguises himself as a blind man and buys the seeing-eye dog Ace (as Ace). Fetching museum manager Whitney Bourne (as Julia Fraser) catches Dix' eye. She may lead Dix to his sister's love letters, and write a few of her own. Murderously nasty Eduardo Ciannelli (as Mitch) causes trouble for the duo - or trio, if you count Ace...
The German Shepherd Ace does very well in his first feature film performance. "Ace the Wonder Dog" was RKO's version of Warner Bros.' Rin Tin Tin, then the #1 animal star at the box office. This slow-moving film is most notable for being Ace's debut. He was a good dog, but only the collie Lassie could ever approach the level, and long-term popularity, of Rin Tin Tin. Directed by the prolific Lew Landers, this story is a stretch from beginning to end, the height being Dix posing as a blind man in order to inconspicuously feel around a museum for clues leading to his sister's old love letters.
**** Blind Alibi (1938-05-20) Lew Landers ~ Richard Dix, Whitney Bourne, Ciannelli, Frances Mercer