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IMDbPro

Blackmail

  • 19391939
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
816
YOUR RATING
Blackmail (1939)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
John Ingram, successful oil-field firefighter, is really a chain-gang escapee. Someone out of his past finds him...John Ingram, successful oil-field firefighter, is really a chain-gang escapee. Someone out of his past finds him...John Ingram, successful oil-field firefighter, is really a chain-gang escapee. Someone out of his past finds him...
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
816
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • H.C. Potter
  • Writers
    • David Hertz(screen play)
    • William Ludwig(screen play)
    • Endre Bohem(story)
  • Stars
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Ruth Hussey
    • Gene Lockhart
Top credits
  • Director
    • H.C. Potter
  • Writers
    • David Hertz(screen play)
    • William Ludwig(screen play)
    • Endre Bohem(story)
  • Stars
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Ruth Hussey
    • Gene Lockhart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Edward G. Robinson in Blackmail (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson, Bobs Watson, and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams in Blackmail (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Hussey, and Gene Lockhart in Blackmail (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Hussey, and Gene Lockhart in Blackmail (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson, Gene Lockhart, and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams in Blackmail (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Hussey in Blackmail (1939)
    Blackmail (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Hussey in Blackmail (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • John R. Ingramas John R. Ingram
    Ruth Hussey
    Ruth Hussey
    • Helen Ingramas Helen Ingram
    Gene Lockhart
    Gene Lockhart
    • William Rameyas William Ramey
    Bobs Watson
    Bobs Watson
    • Hankas Hank
    Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
    Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
    • Moose McCarthyas Moose McCarthy
    • (as Guinn Williams)
    John Wray
    John Wray
    • Diggsas Diggs
    Arthur Hohl
    Arthur Hohl
    • Rawlinsas Rawlins
    Esther Dale
    Esther Dale
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Lew Harvey
    Lew Harvey
    • Workmanas Workman
    • (scenes deleted)
    Mitchell Lewis
    Mitchell Lewis
    • Workmanas Workman
    • (scenes deleted)
    Louis Natheaux
    Louis Natheaux
      Ted Oliver
      • Workmanas Workman
      • (scenes deleted)
      Lee Phelps
      • Guardas Guard
      • (scenes deleted)
      Trevor Bardette
      Trevor Bardette
      • Southern Deputyas Southern Deputy
      • (uncredited)
      Willie Best
      Willie Best
      • Bunny - the Janitoras Bunny - the Janitor
      • (uncredited)
      Stanley Blystone
      Stanley Blystone
      • Oil Workeras Oil Worker
      • (uncredited)
      Wade Boteler
      Wade Boteler
      • Police Sergeantas Police Sergeant
      • (uncredited)
      Ed Brady
      Ed Brady
      • Prisoner Worrying About Dick Tracyas Prisoner Worrying About Dick Tracy
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • H.C. Potter
      • Writers
        • David Hertz(screen play)
        • William Ludwig(screen play)
        • Endre Bohem(story)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        This film received its USA television premiere in Los Angeles Friday 16 November 1956 on KTTV (Channel 11), followed by Philadelphia Monday 19 November 1956 on WFIL (Channel 6); it first aired in New Haven CT 3 December 1956 on WNHC (Channel 8), in New York City 15 December 1956 on WCBS (Channel 2) , in Portland OR 2 January 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), in Chicago 16 January 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), in Altoona PA 15 April 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), in Minneapolis 1 May 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), in Abilene TX 20 May 1957 on KRBC (Channel 9), in Phoenix 28 July 1957 on KPHO (Channel 5), in Memphis 5 August 1957 on WHBQ (Channel 13), in Miami 14 August 1957 on WCKT (Channel 7), in Tampa 1 October 1957 on WFLA (Channel 8), in Cincinnati 2 November 1957 on WLW-T (Channel 5), in Columbus 23 November 1957 on WLW-C (Channel 3), in Indianapolis 9 December 1957 on WLW-I (Channel 13), in Fresno CA 16 December 1957 on KMJ (Channel 24), in Honolulu 3 January 1958 on KHVH (Channel 13), and in San Francisco 20 January 1958 on KGO (Channel 7).
      • Goofs
        While riding under the truck, Edward G. Robinson's character's hat falls off onto the road. Later, when he arrives back at his home, he is wearing his hat again . It's conceivable that the truck was not going in the direction Ingram needed to go and simply picked up the hat on the way back.
      • Connections
        Featured in From the Ends of the Earth (1939)

      User reviews26

      Review
      Top review
      7/10
      Another fugitive from a chain gang
      Almost 30 years before John Wayne did his tribute film to Earl 'Red' Adair the famous fighter of oil fires, Edward G. Robinson starred as a man with an oil fighting company, married to Ruth Hussey and with a son in little Bobs Watson. But in Black mail he's a fugitive from a chain gang being convicted of a robbery he didn't commit and escaping. Robinson keeps a low profile, as low as he can, but it isn't the law that spots him.

      No it's Gene Lockhart and he knows him from when the robbery was committed. It was when both were in the navy and Lockhart was the real thief, but got scared and the money from the ship's purser which he stole in Robinson's bunk.

      Now the scurvy little sneak develops a new scheme after first ingratiating himself with Robinson asking for a job and then rats him out with an exchange for a confession. You have to see how this works and I can't believe Robinson fell for it, but Lockhart gets control of an oil well that Robinson has a lease on and Robinson goes back to the chain gang.

      Gene Lockhart made a career of playing all kinds of rat roles, but he really tops himself in Blackmail. You will love seeing how he gets his in the end.

      The chain gang scenes are copied well from the classic film from Robinson's home studio of Warner Brothers. Chain gangs are as bad as they were when Paul Muni was serving on them and he too was framed for the crime he was sentenced for by circumstance. There's also a nice supporting part for Guinn Williams as Robinson's lunkhead assistant who has a good heart and actually proves valuable to him.

      Fans of Robinson will like Blackmail it holds up well after almost 75 years.
      helpful•5
      0
      • bkoganbing
      • Apr 8, 2014

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • September 8, 1939 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Ucena
      • Filming locations
        • San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA
      • Production company
        • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 21 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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