Partners in Crime (1937) DVD-R

Starring Lynne Overman, Roscoe Karns, Muriel Hutchison, Anthony
Quinn, Inez Courtney
Directed by Ralph Murphy

Print: black/white
Runtime: 66 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

Partners in Crime was Paramount's follow-up to its successful Murder
Goes to College; both films were based on a series of mystery novels by
Kurt Steel. Lynne Overman and Roscoe Karns are back as insouciant
private eye Hank Hyer and his bibulous partner-in-crimesolving Sim
Perkins. Our heroes are currently engaged in protecting a reform-ticket
mayoral candidate from a blackmail scheme. When this fails, Sim himself
runs for mayor, and through the sort of miracles that only happen in
movies he wins the election. A clever last-minute plot twist loses him his
office, but at least the good guys did triumph for a while. Alas, Partners in
Crime went the way of most sequels; lacking the freshness and
spontaneity of the first film, it was less successful at the box office,
precluding any more follow-ups. On the other hand, it did afford an
excellent early acting opportunity for new Paramount contractee Anthony
Quinn.