I Was a Convict
Cast & Crew
Aubrey Scotto
Barton Maclane
Beverly Roberts
Clarence Kolb
Janet Beecher
Horace Macmahon
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
While serving a two-year sentence for tax evasion, millionaire John B. Harrison becomes friends with his cellmate, racketeer Ace King. After Ace and his pal, Missouri Smith, stop an escape attempt by Rocks Henry and Matty, during which they try to kidnap Harrison, Ace and Missouri are paroled on the same day Harrison is released. The grateful tycoon offers Ace and Missouri jobs, which they gladly accept, even though they intend to fleece him. The press has a field day with the news that Harrison is hiring ex-convicts, and his family, including his wife Martha, aunt Sarah Scarlett and cousin Martin, bitterly tell him that the affair has cost the company its largest accounts. Jackson, Harrison's general manager, pressures Harrison into resigning. Ace denounces Harrison's lack of conviction and shames him into refusing to change his plans. This is applauded by Harrison's daughter Judy, the only one who believes in his ideas. After Harrison appoints Ace the assistant general manager, Ace promises to regain the lost clients by the next day. Using strongarm tactics, Ace and Missouri succeed in making the clients reopen their accounts, and soon Harrison tests them again by asking them to pick up the $98,000 payroll from the bank. Missouri wants to flee with the money, but Ace insists that they will get more if they wait. They bring the payroll to the office, thereby impressing Judy and Harrison to the point where Harrison hires more ex-convicts as they are released. Soon, a month after being paroled, Ace appears to have settled into his job when Jackson, at the behest of the other Harrisons, tries to bribe Ace to leave the company. Ace pretends to go along but later reveals the plan to Harrison, after which he returns home to discover Rocks and Matty hiding there. The pair, having escaped from jail, are holding Missouri captive and demand that Ace help them kidnap Harrison. Ace promises them the payroll money and takes them to the company's safe. He tries to get the drop on them, but they escape with the money. Ace is blamed for the robbery, but Harrison alibis him by saying that he has power of attorney and can legally obtain any of the company's money. Ace is moved by Harrison's faith in him and resolves to go straight. Harrison is still troubled by his family, however, and they have him committed to an insane asylum. Judy tells Ace that her father was taken away by force and he and Missouri rush to help him. They steal Harrison from the doctors and take him to a safe place, but Ace is then suspected of kidnapping. After he gives himself up and informs the district attorney of the circumstances, Ace attempts to take him to Harrison, but he has been abducted for real by Rocks and Matty, who have wounded Missouri in a shootout. Missouri tells Ace where the criminals went, and after locking up the district attorney, Ace goes to rescue Harrison. While the police search for Ace, he and Judy find and rescue Harrison. Soon after, Ace and Missouri have been cleared of all charges, Harrison has fired Jackson and rewarded Ace with his job, and Ace and Judy look forward to a bright future together.
Director
Aubrey Scotto
Cast
Barton Maclane
Beverly Roberts
Clarence Kolb
Janet Beecher
Horace Macmahon
Ben Welden
Leon Ames
Clara Blandick
Russell Hicks
John Harmon
Chester Clute
Craufurd Kent
Edwin Stanley
Harry Holman
Crew
Robert D. Andrews
Robert D. Andrews
George Blair
Franklin Coen
Cy Feuer
John Victor Mackay
Ben Markson
Gene Milford
Herman Schlom
Murray Seldeen
Edward Snyder
Al Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
A working title for this film was White Fury.
