The Perfect Set-Up

Perfect Set-Up, The (1936)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent entry in MGM's "Crime Does Not Pay" series takes a look at Alan Saunders (William Henry), a man who goes through school at the top of his class but when he gets out in the real world he has trouble finding a good job. After a lesser student in his class becomes his boss Alan decides to turn to a life of crime and before long things are spinning out of control. This series is without question my favorite of everyone MGM did and this entry here is certainly far from the best but fans such as myself will still want to check it out. I think the biggest problem with the film is its screenplay because the story itself really doesn't stand out in terms of drama from the studio. There were countless morality tales from all studios but usually these "Crime Does Not Pay" shorts took something different or something that really needed to be told. I'm really not sure what part of this story is different with the exception of an early model of television being used. The story is pretty predictable from start to finish and it's really no shock in how it ends. With that said, Henry is pretty good in the lead role as you believe him as the overlooked and mistreated kid but then too as the criminal who finds himself getting into more and more trouble. Another good touch is the funny, somewhat campy way that MGM promotes itself. During the big murder sequence the victim is standing in front of a movie poster, which just happens to be MGM's THE MURDER MAN with Spencer Tracy. Not only do we see the poster but the director gives us a zoom into the title to make sure we see the title.

MGM presents A Crime Does Not Pay Subject. Alan Saunders is a recent electrical engineer school graduate. It's hard to get ahead at work. His sketchy friend Chet convinces him to help with an alarm. Alan is shocked when his work is used for break-ins but he soon joins the robbery crew. He's pulled further and further until he turns into a hardened criminal.

This has as much punch as an afterschool special and has the same persuasive powers as an industrial film. If it wanted more punch, Saunders would have to die in a horrible shootout. This is rather bland even considering a pearl-clutching crowd. It's nothing special and that's the point.

William Henry is a young man with a degree in electronics and some interesting ideas for television. But the people in charge of the company he works for urge him to patience. He is not, however patient, and when a buddy suggests they can make a lot of money if they are not too fussy, he agrees. For a while, the going is good, but this being the MGM crime series, he will discover that CRIME DOES NOT PAY.

This entry in the long-running series is a little flat and ham-handed in its handling of the subject, but there are all the hallmarks: a man in a white coat that uses SCIENCE to find out things, a shoot-out, and the inevitable nasty ending for the bad guys.

This is one of the most unusual shorts from the "Crime Does Not Pay" series. Alan Saunders just graduated at the top of his class in college, but despite being brilliant and talented, he has trouble finding work and takes a job with an electronics company that is beneath his talents. Instead of accepting this and assuming he'll eventually be promoted, Alan is resentful. So, when he has a chance to use his engineering skills for evil, he joins a local crime gang--which is ironic, as his boss DOES recognize his skills and is about to give him a big promotion. The promotion comes too late--and Alan embarks on a very successful career committing robberies and even a murder! Eventually, it all catches up to him.

In addition to being well written, the film was also interesting because it's one of the earlier movies to talk about television, as Alan has invented something to revolutionize TV screen resolutions. And, you see a simulated demonstration of television near the end of the show. All in all, a fascinating and well made short from start to finish.

This is a routine member of the series "Crime Does Not Pay", and is of interest for only two reasons. The first is the glimpses of daily life in 1936 that are seen throughout the film. This particular short has many more of them than most members of the series. The second is the frequent references to television throughout the film, including an early model of a TV screen. To the best of my knowledge, the first TV broadcasts in the U.S. were in 1941 in New York City. However, the references in this movie make it clear that TV was a much discussed, and anticipated, invention as early as 1936. I would have rated the movie a six except for the historical interest of the film. In it's day, it was nothing special.