Whether known by its original title, "Double Cross", or its 16mm re-issue as "Motorcycle Squad", this movie is somewhat less than "B"-movie average. Filmed on a tightwad budget from a none too exciting and not particularly involving script, and enacted by a largely boring collection of players led by Kane Richmond and Robert Homans, and including, alas, John Miljan who makes no attempt (other than to enunciate his lines clearly) to invigorate what would seem to be an ideal role, the viewer has little to engage his attention (I use the masculine pronoun advisedly) but four or five members of the support cast, especially Heinie Conklin and Frank Moran who do their best to instill some life into a limp, stale plot. Admittedly, the screenwriter also tries a couple of new wrinkles by presenting the one-track-minded Captain Murray (appropriately overplayed by prolific "Irish" policeman character-player, Robert Homans), as a somewhat unpleasant martinet. I also like the way he ties in the gangsters with the mayoral elections – standard stuff certainly, but it does provide a window for under-rated character players William Halligan and Charles Miller (as the mayors) to gain our approval. Alas, the lead player, Wynne Gibson (born 1898), is unflatteringly photographed. And our lovely heroine, Pauline Moore (who supplants Wynne Gibson on the re-issue poster), is not always photographed to her advantage either, but I guess cinematographer Arthur Martinelli did his best in the obviously limited time he had available. Director Albert Kelley is unknown to me, even though he worked in Hollywood off and on from 1918 to 1953. Available on a very good Grapevine DVD, double-billed with "Roar of the Press".
Review of Double Cross
