
Lady Killer
Directed by Roy Del Ruth
A criminal on the run becomes a Hollywood movie star.
1933 1h 16m Comedy TV-G
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![James Cagney, Dan [Quigley]](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/JamesCagney.26868.jpg?w=200)
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![Mae Clarke, Myra [Gale]](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/MaeClark.35147.1.jpg?w=200)
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![Margaret Lindsay, Lois [Underwood]](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/MargaretLindsay.jpg?w=200)
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![Douglas Dumbrille, Spade [Maddock]](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/DouglassDumbrille.54032.jpg?w=200)
While returning a purse dropped by attractive Myra Gale, Dan Quigley quickly learns that he has been the victim of a confidence game. He threatens the gang with exposure unless they cut him in on their profits. Dan works the racket so successfully that they are able to open a gambling club patronized by wealthy customers. When they spot a likely victim among the customers, Dan arranges a fake accident so he will be taken into the victim's house and cases it for his fellow gangsters. Eventually, the police suspect Dan's gang, and when someone dies during a robbery, the gang leaves town. They travel to Los Angeles, where Dan is arrested. He asks Myra to arrange his bail, but Spade Maddock, another gang member, talks her into using the money to leave town. Because they do not have enough evidence to hold Dan, the police release him. Looking like a hobo, he is offered work as a movie extra. One day, he stumbles into the dressing room of movie star Lois Underwood. He starts a self-promoting letter writing campaign, which convinces the studio that he would be a good choice for a new leading man. Dan and Lois become romantically involved, and things are going well for Dan until Myra and the gang return. They threaten to reveal his past unless he fingers wealthy Hollywood people for robberies. He refuses, paying the gang a large amount of money to leave town. They double-cross him, robbing Lois's house, and Dan is arrested. When the studio will not stand by him, Lois offers to pay his bail, but the gang beats her to it, planning to kill him before he can tell the police about their activites. Suspecting their motives, Dan tips off the police, and the gang is captured. After Dan is cleared of all charges and his career saved, he and Lois leave to get married.

The film's working title was The Finger Man. According to a news item in Film Daily, Patricia Ellis was to play the second female lead along with Mae Clarke. Daily Variety reports that Warner Bros. was temporarily enjoined from using the title Lady Killer. The complaint of playwrights Fred and Alice Mandel alleged that Warner Bros. was notified of prior rights to the use of the title of their stage play and that releasing the film under that title was an infringement of title rights.