Oil well firefighter John R. Ingram (Edward G. Robinson) is actually a escaped convict from a chain gang who was falsely accused. Soon, William Ramey (Gene Lockhart), the real perpetrator of the crime, turns up and blackmails Ingram into giving up his oil well.
Blackmail is MGM doing a Warner Brothers film, looking rather cheap in places. Honestly, a film like this wouldn't have been produced when Irving Thalberg was alive. It starts out interestingly - movies about oil well firefighters is an unusual topic - but gets rather silly when Robinson is sent back to the chain gang. It's all rather like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. There were some impressive special effects in the opening sequence.
Robinson gives a sturdy performance, while Ruth Hussey and Guinn Williams are good in support. The best performance goes to Gene Lockhart in an offbeat role as the blackmailer. Overall, it's an entertaining film, but nothing special.
Blackmail is MGM doing a Warner Brothers film, looking rather cheap in places. Honestly, a film like this wouldn't have been produced when Irving Thalberg was alive. It starts out interestingly - movies about oil well firefighters is an unusual topic - but gets rather silly when Robinson is sent back to the chain gang. It's all rather like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. There were some impressive special effects in the opening sequence.
Robinson gives a sturdy performance, while Ruth Hussey and Guinn Williams are good in support. The best performance goes to Gene Lockhart in an offbeat role as the blackmailer. Overall, it's an entertaining film, but nothing special.