Pop Always Pays

WE JUST SCREENED this RKO potboiler today. Prior to that time, we never heard of it; although star Leon Errol has been familiar to us for some time now. Back in the early 1970's, Chicago TV station, Channel 32, WFLD TV (Now a Fox subsidiary) would alternate the showing of RKO sound comedies that featured LEON ERROL with those in EDGAR KENNEDY's series on different afternoons.

THIS FEATURE WAS essentially an extension of the 2 reelers that Mr. Errol had done during that period; which both exploited the existing screen character & familiarity, but also provided a short "B" picture to fill out the then popular Double Feature packaging to movie house operators.

THE ADDITION OF an expanded cast did help to transform in l-e-n-g-t-h-e-n-I-n-g the story from 2 reeler to short feature. Those included were: Dennis O'Keefe, Pamela Blake, Marjore Gleason and (curiously) Erskine Sanford (late of CITIZEN KANE). Unbilled Frank Faylen as loan company clerk along with Tom Kennedy and Walter Catlett provide great foils for Leon.

THE PRINT THAT was run on Turner Classic Television (though distributed by Warner Brothers TV)was that bearing the umbrella title of "MOVIETIME USA". That was the name used by RKO circa 1958 when +C & C Television Corp." released hundreds of old RKO RADIO Pictures features to the local TV stations. Until recently, WLS TV Channel 7 ran many of these movies on their late night weekend schedules. These included mostly unknown and forgettable titles, but also the likes of KING KONG, THE INFORMER and even CITIZEN KANE!