Take My Life

Ace Baldwin, a small-time hood, has manipulated a group of impressionable youths into forming a gang of petty thieves. Johnny Thurman, a member of the gang, has convinced his brother, Dr. Bob, to rent them a clubhouse, which is actually a front for the gang's illicit enterprise. Helen Stanley, sister of another gang member, Bill, tells Bob that she is suspicious of the boys' activities at the clubhouse, but when the two visit the place, Bob is unconvinced. Meanwhile, Renie De Vere, Bob's fiancée, has been spending time with Ace, and at her apartment, she tells him that she plans to marry the doctor so that she can give up her stage career and relax. Bob, who earlier had learned that Renie and Ace had been seen together around town, arrives unexpectedly, forcing Renie to hide Ace in her bedroom. Bob becomes suspicious of Renie, who is acting nervous, and tests her to see if she knows Ace. Although she denies it, Bob soon finds Ace's hiding place and storms out, breaking their engagement. Renie vows revenge, and Ace says he will help her by framing Johnny. Back at the clubhouse, Johnny, who has been acting as Ace's right-hand man, chides the gang for their meager earnings as thieves. When Stinky, one of the gang members, says that he has the jitters and thinks that Ace should stop pressuring them for awhile, Ace overhears Johnny defending him and then offers to help him "graduate" into the big time. After Ace explains the job, however, Johnny protests he is not ready for such a major heist. Ace bullies him to agreeing by threatening to reveal to the gang his cowardice. Later that day, the boys pass a recruiting office, where Sergeant Holmes tells them about the glory of the U.S. Army. He argues that they are not real Americans just because they were born in America, but that they must fight for their country. The boys dismiss the idea of enlisting until Holmes shows them a film depicting military heroism. Afterward, Holmes gives Johnny one of his medals. Bob and Helen return to the clubhouse and discover stolen radios, proof that the boys have been engaging in foul play. When the gang, led by Bill, arrives, Bob and Helen learn about Johnny's job and convince the boys that Ace will double-cross their friend. Johnny meets Ace and tries to tell the gangster that he has learned about the Constitution and its rules against stealing, but Ace forces him to go through with the job. During the robbery, Ace kills a watchman and leaves Johnny to take the blame. The police arrive and shoot the innocent boy, who escapes back to the clubhouse, where his brother Bob performs an emergency operation on him. Despite his family and friends' support, Johnny is convicted and faces the death penalty, but Bob promises to get him a reprieve. Meanwhile, the boys desperately search for Ace, and finally spot him driving with Renie. As the boys chase Ace's car, Ace crashes and the boys have him rushed to the hospital where Bob works. The attending physician, Dr. Moore, says that operating on the nearly dead Ace will kill him, but Bob insists, hoping that he can save Ace and get a confession out of him before Johnny goes to the electric chair that night. Ace has lost all of his motor skills, but Bob and Helen still try to get him to confess. Meanwhile, Johnny is terror-stricken as he sits on death row. As a last resort, Bob decides to recite to Ace what he terms his "Hymn of Hate." While describing in grueling detail what Johnny is experiencing at that very moment, he wheels in the electrocardiac machine, pretending he is about to perform Ace's own execution. Ace, believing he is about to be electrocuted, confesses to having killed the watchman, and Johnny is saved. Shortly after, Johnny, Bill and the boys, decked out in their new uniforms, bid goodbye to Bob and Helen and follow Holmes into service for their country.