The Woman Racket

During prohibition, a speakeasy is raided. Good-natured policeman Tom Moore (as Thomas "Tom" Hayes) discovers nightclub singer Blanche Sweet (as Julia Barnes) trying to avoid arrest. Stricken by her beauty, Mr. Moore allows her escape, and the two begin dating. Although they are happily married, Ms. Sweet becomes bored being a housewife and getting along on Moore's meager salary. His gift of a new dress tempts Sweet into sneaking out for the evening. She has fun seeing old friends and sings "He's Good Enough for Me" - signaling her heart remains with Moore... however...

Against Moore's wishes, Sweet accepts a job entertaining at "The Blue Moon" and succumbs to the charms of smarmy boss John Miljan (as Chris Miller). Ironically, Sweet leaves Moore just before he receives a promotion to detective sergeant. Months later, Sweet has been lured into criminal activities with Mr. Miljan, who is unsurprisingly revealed as a gangster lord. When a mugging turns to murder, Moore arrives to investigate...

The "talkie" technology is primitive here, but Sweet does well in her first feature length sound film. While not well remembered today, Blanche Sweet was one of the silent era's most renowned actresses - she was often considered on par with Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish. Like many, Sweet was considered old-fashioned when the medium changed, although her 1930s films reveal her in arguably better stead than her peers. Moore was the brother of silent stars Owen and Matt Moore (Pickford dynasty in-laws). "The Woman Racket" apparently did not advance its co-stars' careers, but it is an enjoyable time capsule.

****** The Woman Racket (1/24/30) Robert Ober, Albert Kelley ~ Blanche Sweet, Tom Moore, John Miljan, Tenen Holtz