Below the Deadline

(Warning- To IMDB streaming viewers. There are two contrasting films with the same name, "Below The Deadline". One is from 1946, the other 1936. In misleading fashion, IMDB's Watch List for viewer streaming places the older film under the description of the newer. Thus, I thought I was cueing up 1946 and instead I got the wholly different 1936. So be aware of that possibility if you're considering the IMDB viewer stream.)

The '36 flick is a decent if unexceptional crime story. A policeman and his girl plan to marry, but instead get mixed up in a diamond robbery for which the patrolman is blamed. Now he's got to clear himself, but how.

I can see why MGM had plans for Parker (on loan here). She's a charmingly engaging ingénue who carries the film. Leading man Hopton is an unknown, to me at least, and an apparent suicide victim (1945). As another reviewer points out, he's a bit of a miscast in terms of age and charm. He does, however, have a convincing Irish brogue. The settings are pretty well done for a poverty row production, along with smooth direction from Lamont. The story wobbles, but has a few twists that hold interest. All in all, it's a pretty good little time passer for old movie buffs, thanks mainly to Parker.