What Price Crime

What Price Crime is a gripping and thought-provoking crime film directed by Albert Herman and released in 1935. The film presents a unique blend of drama, suspense with a slight touch of comedy, creating a riveting experience for movie-goers of the era and beyond.

Starring screen heavyweight Charles Starrett, alongside co-stars Noel Madison, and the versatile Virginia Cherrill, What Price Crime delves into a world of suspense, illegal operations and a gamble between law enforcement and the criminal underworld. Starrett delivers a stellar performance tying up the narrative in a breathtakingly tense story of crime and justice.

In What Price Crime, Charles Starrett portrays the character of Alan O'Connor who is fast climbing the ladder in the field of private investigation. His determination is matched only by his intelligence and bravery. O'Connor specializes in solving cases that seem impossible to unravel, even by the finest detectives of the city police department.

Starrett’s virtuous character, Alan, becomes introduced to the secretive world of Charles Colombo, portrayed unforgettably by Noel Madison. Madison's character, Colombo, runs a lucrative and illegal firearms syndicate which plays a pivotal role in the city's dark underworld of crime. Madison captures the intriguing essence of the antagonist who on one hand governs the city's underworld while on the other hand successfully escapes the radars of law enforcement.

The female lead, Ann Parker, is played by Virginia Cherrill, who brings a captivating touch to the film. Cherrill's Ann is the sister of a private investigator and is more entangled in the dark world of Colombo than she initially realizes or admits. Intricate relationships and engrossing plot twists are carefully woven around this character.

What Price Crime develops as much more than a classic tale of good versus evil, as it intricately dissects the world of crime, showcasing a different and riskier angle in the sphere of law enforcement. The film keeps the audience gripped with well-designed, unexpected plot turns and escalating tension. The narrative thrives on suspense and surprise, leaving viewers constantly guessing about the characters' next moves and impending fate.

The film brilliantly plays with the narrative with shadowy secrets, chase sequences, breath-taking standoffs and encounters. This blend of suspense and action, coupled with engaging character development, hints at the complexity that lurks beneath the surface of the seemingly clear-cut world of crime and justice.

What Price Crime is well equipped with elements of danger, deception, bravery, and justice, striking a perfect balance to keep the audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the film. Albert Herman masterfully captures this tense cat-and-mouse chase between law enforcement and the criminal world, resulting in a nail-biting cinematic experience.

The screenplay of the film deserves applause, with just the right mix of action, romance, and drama. It beautifully showcases the struggle of characters as they maneuver through the criminal underworld, always maintaining an edge-of-the-seat aura. The dialogues are sharp and impactful, adding more depth to the brilliantly sketched characters.

The remarkable performances by Starrett, Madison, and Cherrill deserve especial mention. They breathe life into their characters, adding a vivid persona that transcends the cinema screen. The chemistry between the actors adds to the dynamism of the film, making it a captivating watch. This is coupled with impressive cinematography that superbly captures the grit and atmosphere of the tangled city streets, shadowy hideouts, and swanky syndicate offices where much of the drama unfolds.

In conclusion, What Price Crime is a timeless piece of cinema that transcends the common notions of a 1930s film noire feature. The film offers not just a story but a gripping experience filled with suspense, intrigue, and drama, supported by remarkable performances, a gripping script, and intense direction. A must-watch for anyone with an interest in crime films, the wide spectrum of suspense, thrill, and human relations depicted in the movie surely makes for an innately immersive cinematic experience.