Trouble Chasers

Upon his release from prison, Tommy Young reunites with his faithful sweetheart Nora Nolan and his best friends, boxer Maxie Rosenbloom, manager Billy Gilbert and trainer Shemp Howard. Unknown to Tommy, two crooks, Lefty Reed and Del Sharp, who were responsible for the robbery for which he was convicted, have spotted him at the boxing arena where the incompetent Maxie is about to fight. Curious about Tommy's connection to the boxer, Lefty and Del later question H. G. Hogan, Maxie's shady promoter, and show him an article in a true crime magazine, in which author Black Panther claims to know who ended up with the $50,000 necklace that they had attempted to steal the night Tommy was arrested. Tommy, they explain, was an innocent taxi driver in whose cab they dumped what they thought was the real necklace, but turned out to be a fake. After revealing that Billy is Black Panther, Hogan offers to help Lefty and Del retrieve the necklace for a "cut." Hogan then telephones Billy at Nora's aunt's boardinghouse, explaining that two publishers want to discuss a writing job with him. The bumbling, broke Billy, whose ambition is to become a renowned writer, eagerly agrees to meet the crooks at the Diamond Club. There, Billy inadvertently arouses Lefty and Del's suspicions when he refers to Maxie and Shemp as his "gang" and is soon being led to his boardinghouse at gunpoint. Finally realizing that Lefty and Del are looking for the necklace and believe he has it, Billy tries to stall them by suggesting they move into the boardinghouse while he works out a deal with Maxie and Shemp, who also live at Mrs. Tubbs's. When Lefty and Del begin to pressure him about the necklace, Billy blurts out that he needs to contact his "undercover man," Gimpy Brown. At that moment, a moll named Goldie, who was also involved in the robbery, comes to see Lefty and Del and informs them that the Gimpy Brown she once knew is now dead. To expose Billy's lie, Goldie introduces herself to Billy as Gimpy's girl friend and offers to help locate him. Unaware that Gimpy is dead, however, Billy nervously agrees to Lefty and Del's suggestion that they all meet at the Diamond Club the next day. Later, Goldie talks privately with Billy and, after telling him the truth about Gimpy, reveals that she has the necklace but has been unable to fence it and wants him to hide it. Billy refuses to take the necklace, but Goldie leaves it in his room anyway. During the night, Billy then tries to deposit the necklace in Lefty and Del's room, but a mysterious boarder named Mr. X. retrieves it and returns it to Billy's room. Now desperate, Billy confers with Tommy, who suggests that Billy go with Shemp and Maxie to the meeting and plant the necklace on Lefty, while he calls the police. In this way, Tommy says, he can clear his name and Billy can collect the insurance reward on the necklace. At the club, as Tommy is notifying the police, Billy tries unsuccessfully to slip the necklace into Lefty's pocket. When Tommy then spots four thugs obviously sent by Lefty and Del, he provokes a fight with Lefty so that Billy and his pals can flee. Billy, Shemp and Maxie end up donning chorus girl costumes to avoid the crooks, but are soon caught with the necklace by the police. Just then, Mr. X appears and, calling Billy a hero, reveals that he is an insurance investigator and has been searching for the necklace. The crooks are arrested, and while Mr. X gives Billy a hefty reward, the now-vindicated Tommy proposes to Nora. Then, to everyone's amazement, Maxie, whose boxing career has consisted of being knocked out nineteen consecutive times, wins his first bout.