The Mayor of 44th Street

Joe Jonathan (George Murphy) is a reformed con trying to go straight with his music booking agency. The previous owner Ed Kirby (Richard Barthelmess) is in prison for racketeering. Jessie Lee (Anne Shirley) is Joe's former dance partner and love interest. Small time hood Bits McKarg (Rex Downing) is after his business and leads a mob of young folks. He hires McKarg and takes the young man under his wing. Kirby is back after leaving prison and entices McKarg.

This has good potential for a dark take on the music industry. The movie needs to bring in Bits McKarg a little sooner. Rex Downing had a decade plus run, but I don't see him being more than in a tough kid role. The other side is that Kirby needs to be a more memorable villain. This is struggling to be more than a limited crime drama.