Storyline

Julius Trent, the founder and president of Trent Mills objects to the plans of his manager, Walford Andrews, to manufacture a synthetic wool called Woolex. Finding Julius behind the times, the stockholders vote Andrews in as president. Following doctor's orders, Julius, accompanied by his wife and his daughter Betty, retires to California. Julius is completely bored by retirement, so when the gardener, an active, healthy man older than Julius, suggests that Julius buy a small business to run as an amusement, he takes the advice and, using an assumed name, buys a half interest in a dry cleaning business. His partner is Ken Mitchell, a young man who has invented a special cleaning fluid. Neither Julius nor Ken realize, however, that the former owner sold them the business to avoid paying money to a group of gangsters headed by Chick Morelli. During a delivery, Ken accidentally splashes mud on Betty, and offers to clean her dress for free. By the time the dress is clean, the two have fallen in love. Julius is pleased by this development and is also pleased to learn that since Woolex cannot be successfully cleaned, all the orders for the fabric have been canceled. Determined not to pay Morelli any extortion money, Julius contrives a confrontation between Morelli and rival gangster Dutch Schmidt. The two gangs shoot it out, killing everyone. When Julius' identity as a textile magnate is revealed, Ken is surprised to discover he is already familiar with his future father-in-law. Julius then receives an offer to return to work as the head of Trent Mills.

Plot Keywords

male female relationship, chemist, california, butler, businessman, dry cleaning, acid, honesty, graft, flirting, laundry, gangster, deception, explosion, extortion, shootout, retirement, partnership, parrot, invention

Short Review

Not a classic in any sense of the word, still worth seeing for MGM's attempt to make a good guy vs. the government picture. The big star in 1937 was Luise Rainer, having just won the best actress Oscar for her portrayal of Anna Held in one of the most celebrated films of all time "The Great Ziegfeld". She was to win a consecutive Oscar in 1937 for best actress, becoming the first actor to do so in the history of the academy. Spencer Tracy, still in his formative days and not as well known, is given second billing. This film was a disappointment as nothing gelled as expected, and there was little drama to make it interesting. While this was not a great movie, it was a very early attempt at the good guy fights corruption theme. For that reason, you may want to see it.

Trailer

Streaming Service

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