The Boss of Big Town
Cast & Crew
Arthur Dreifuss
John Litel
Florence Rice
H. B. Warner
John Miljan
Jean Brooks
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Michael Lynn manages a city's wholesale produce and dairy market during the early days of World War II. He encounters trouble when he refuses the invitation of racketeer Kenneth Craige to become his partner and profit from the war-time food shortage by subtly increasing prices and pocketing the profits. Craige sends thugs to beat up the local farmers and disrupt their farms. Business at the wholesale market drops off because the farmers are afraid of reprisal if they disclose to the police who is beating and intimidating them. Michael, a rough talking but honest man, is then fired by his wealthy boss, Jeffrey Moore, who tells him that his syndicate no longer trusts him to keep the business alive. When Michael's loyal assistant, Bram Hart, beseeches Moore to rehire Michael, Moore promises to reinstate him if Bram can prove he is trustworthy. Bram investigates and gets some information but is mortally wounded before he can tell the police what he knows. Moore's daughter Iris, who flirted with Michael at her father's house, visits Michael at his apartment and meets his neighbor, Dr. Gil Page. When Michael gets a call that Bram is in the hospital, he leaves the two alone together, and they fall in love. Michael promises his dying friend that he will take care of his little daughter Francis. He then goes to Craige and agrees to work as a partner in the racket, and succeeds in getting the farmers to hike their prices. When a trial is called to determine the legality of the price hike, no evidence is found to the contrary, and the case is dismissed. One night, Craige's thugs, Foster and Graham, come to Michael's apartment to inform him that he is to meet the "brains" of the entire operation. When Graham becomes too friendly with Iris, who has escaped from her father because he forbade her to see Page, Michael hits him. The thug draws his gun and fires, wounding Iris. Foster and Graham then escape and Michael calls Page to take care of Iris. Before Page operates, Iris mentions to Michael that her father is meeting with Craige that night, and Michael realizes that Moore is connected to the racket. After alerting the police, Michael confronts Moore at his home. Moore plans to kill him, but when he learns of Iris' injury, he drops his gun and is then murdered by Craige. Before Craige can kill Michael, however, he is shot by police inspector Torrence. Michael eventually succeeds in routing the profiteers and is reinstated as head of the city market. Reporter Linda Gregory, who has been following the story, accepts Michael's marriage proposal, and they become the proud adoptive parents of Francis.
Director
Arthur Dreifuss
Cast
John Litel
Florence Rice
H. B. Warner
John Miljan
Jean Brooks
David Bacon
Mary Gordon
Frank Ferguson
Lloyd Ingraham
John Maxwell
Paul Dubov
Patricia Prest
Crew
David Chudnow
Eddie Davis
Edward Dein
Edward Dein
Harry D. Edwards
Leo Erdody
Leon Fromkess
Charles Henkel Jr.
Arthur Hoerl
Marcel Lepicard
Jack Schwarz
Ben Winkler
Film Details
Technical Specs
