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Missing Witnesses

  • 19371937
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 1m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
124
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Virginia Dale, John Litel, and Dick Purcell in Missing Witnesses (1937)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Crime
The daring of the racketeers, all working for one organization, in an east coast city leads the Governor to create a new undercover law agency formed to combat the gangsters, and to find wit... Read allThe daring of the racketeers, all working for one organization, in an east coast city leads the Governor to create a new undercover law agency formed to combat the gangsters, and to find witnesses against them. Heading the agency is the Special Prosecutor's aide, Inspector Lane, ... Read allThe daring of the racketeers, all working for one organization, in an east coast city leads the Governor to create a new undercover law agency formed to combat the gangsters, and to find witnesses against them. Heading the agency is the Special Prosecutor's aide, Inspector Lane, and his assistants, Emmet White and Bull Regan. Mary Norton, who Bull has fallen in love w... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
124
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Clemens
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Gamet(original screenplay)
    • Don Ryan(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • John Litel
    • Dick Purcell
    • Virginia Dale
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Clemens
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Gamet(original screenplay)
    • Don Ryan(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • John Litel
    • Dick Purcell
    • Virginia Dale
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos41

    Missing Witnesses (1937)
    John Litel in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Dick Purcell in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Virginia Dale in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Sheila Bromley and Ben Welden in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    William Haade and Raymond Hatton in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    William Haade in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Sheila Bromley in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Wilfred Lucas in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Missing Witnesses (1937)
    Raymond Hatton in Missing Witnesses (1937)
    John J. Richardson in Missing Witnesses (1937)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Litel
    John Litel
    • Inspector Robert L. Laneas Inspector Robert L. Lane
    Dick Purcell
    Dick Purcell
    • 'Bull' Reganas 'Bull' Regan
    Virginia Dale
    Virginia Dale
    • Mary Nortonas Mary Norton
    Sheila Bromley
    Sheila Bromley
    • Gladys Wagneras Gladys Wagner
    Ben Welden
    Ben Welden
    • Frank Wagneras Frank Wagner
    William Haade
    William Haade
    • Emmet Whiteas Emmet White
    Raymond Hatton
    Raymond Hatton
    • 'Little Joe' Maceyas 'Little Joe' Macey
    Harland Tucker
    • Ward Sturgisas Ward Sturgis
    Jack Mower
    Jack Mower
    • Detective Butleras Detective Butler
    John Harron
    John Harron
    • Harrisas Harris
    • (as Jack Harron)
    Michael Mark
    Michael Mark
    • Hartmanas Hartman
    Earl Gunn
    • Chivvy Predoas Chivvy Predo
    Louis Natheaux
    Louis Natheaux
    • Heinie Doddsas Heinie Dodds
    Eddie Acuff
    Eddie Acuff
    • Detective Peteas Detective Pete
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Allen
    • Court Bailiffas Court Bailiff
    • (uncredited)
    Hooper Atchley
    Hooper Atchley
    • Macey's Attorneyas Macey's Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    Fern Barry
    • Waitressas Waitress
    • (uncredited)
    Veda Ann Borg
    Veda Ann Borg
    • Miss Fridayas Miss Friday
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Clemens
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Gamet(original screenplay)
      • Don Ryan(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The daring of the racketeers, all working for one organization, in an east coast city leads the Governor to create a new undercover law agency formed to combat the gangsters, and to find witnesses against them. Heading the agency is the Special Prosecutor's aide, Inspector Lane, and his assistants, Emmet White and Bull Regan. Mary Norton, who Bull has fallen in love with, is the secretary for one of the legitimate enterprises ran by Ward Sturgis, the head of the crime ring. Mary had accidentally learned of this, and had just managed to escape with her life from his yacht. Sturgis is found dead floating in the bay with several bullet holes in his body. Mary is the lead suspect and Bull is assigned the job of finding and arresting her, but she gives him the slip. When he does catch up with her again, it is to rescue her from the very-much alive Ward Sturgis, who had faked his death by having a look-alike killed. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
    • peanut
    • receptionist says you can't go in there
    • reference to kid galahad
    • stabbed
    • stabbed in the back
    • 75 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • LOOK OUT FOR WOMAN DYNAMITE! (original print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Lindsey Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - Jan. 27, 1938 - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the AFI Catalog entry for this film, contemporary press accounts reported this was the film that inspired Thomas E. Dewey to investigate the rackets in New York City.
    • Quotes

      'Bull' Regan: Well, there's no harm in trying.

    • Connections
      References Kid Galahad (1937)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    3/10
    A B-movie with tons of plot holes...
    "Missing Witness" is the sort of B-movie that was very common back in the 1930s and 40s. Despite coming from a top studio (Warner Brothers), it was quickly written, has tons of plot holes and really is only enjoyable if you turn off your brain and just take it for what it is...a fast little crime film for the undemanding audience.

    The film starts off well--with a crazy car crash. Then, a group of thugs from a local 'protective association' arrive at a restaurant to shake the owner down for cash. He doesn't agree and they destroy the joint and beat him silly. On the way out, three of the thugs bump into an off-duty cop, 'Bull' Regan (Dick Purcell). Instead of saying 'excuse me', one pulls a knife, the other pulls a gun and the third tries to beat Regan. But Bull is the hero and quickly beats them senseless. However, in court the owner of the restaurant gets amnesia...and the case is thrown out. Think about it...three guys assault a cop, one with a gun and one with a knife, and they just dismiss the case and let the guys go?!?!?! This is a HUGE plot problem...and shows the film was rushed into production without thinking through the plot. After all, the weapons charges were much more serious than the other charges!

    What follows is a city trying to get tough on organized crime sort of picture--and repeatedly the baddies seem to be able to anticipate everything. Witnesses die and someone up high obviously is involved with the mob. There also is a lady named Mary...and you get to hear the cops make a lot of awful sexist remarks towards her! My wife was horrified...I thought her reaction was a bit funny...but I certainly didn't blame her. Purcell's character as well as his boss behaved like pigs.

    Overall, this is a pretty bad film despite the nice Warner Brothers gloss. Not horrible...but not all that good either.
    helpful•3
    8
    • planktonrules
    • Dec 17, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 1937 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gospodar podzemlja
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • First National Pictures
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 1 minute
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Virginia Dale, John Litel, and Dick Purcell in Missing Witnesses (1937)
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