Big Town Scandal

Last updated
Big Town Scandal
Big Town Scandal poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by William C. Thomas
Screenplay by Milton Raison
Produced by William H. Pine
William C. Thomas
Starring Phillip Reed
Hillary Brooke
Stanley Clements
Darryl Hickman
Carl Switzer
Roland Dupree
Cinematography Ellis W. Carter
Edited by Howard A. Smith
Music by Darrell Calker
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • May 27, 1948 (1948-05-27)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Big Town Scandal is a 1948 American crime film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Milton Raison. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Stanley Clements, Darryl Hickman, Carl Switzer and Roland Dupree. It was released on May 27, 1948 by Paramount Pictures. [1] [2] [3] The film was the fourth and last one in a series of four films based on the long-running radio program Big Town .

Contents

Plot

After juvenile boys get caught robbing a sporting goods store, reporter Lorelei Kilbourne pleads for leniency in court and her boss and boyfriend, editor Steve Wilson, ends up reluctantly vouching for the boys. He converts an old newspaper building into a recreation center, where he coaches the boys in basketball. Tommy Malone goes for a joy ride in the car of a gangster, Joe Moreley. A business arrangement is struck, where Moreley will stash stolen goods at the rec center while betting on the team's basketball games, which Tommy will deliberately lose.

The other boys try to return some stolen furs, but one of them, Pinky Jones, ends up shot. Tommy tries to end his deal with Moreley, only to be threatened by Cato, the gangster's gunman. Tommy double-crosses the crooks, winning the next game. Cato shoots him. Tommy's friend and teammate "Dum Dum" pursues Moreley in the bleachers, where Moreley falls off. Tommy recovers in the hospital, while Steve and Lorelei end up getting custody of three more delinquent boys.

Cast

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer</span> American actor and singer (1927–1959)

Carl Dean Switzer was an American singer, child actor, dog breeder, and guide. He was best known for his role as Alfalfa in the short subjects series Our Gang.

<i>Big Town</i> Radio drama series

Big Town is a popular long-running radio drama featuring a corruption-fighting newspaper editor initially played from 1937 to 1942 by Edward G. Robinson in his first radio role, with echoes of the conscience-stricken tabloid editor he had played in the film Five Star Final. Edward Pawley played the lead role longer, 1943–52, in plots that made the editor more of a hands-on crime-fighter. During the later Pawley years, Big Town was adapted to film and television series, and a comic book published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Pawley</span> American actor (1901–1988)

Edward Joel Pawley was an American actor of radio, films and Broadway. The full name on his birth certificate is Edward Joel Stone Pawley; he never used the Stone name, which derived from a Stone family in Illinois.

Marcus L. Dupree is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL). He was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where his playing in high school attracted national attention. A highly touted and sought-after college football recruit, he played for the Oklahoma Sooners, earning Football News Freshman of the Year, second-team All-American and Big Eight Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. He left in the middle of his sophomore season and briefly attended the University of Southern Mississippi. Marcus played spring football for the Golden Eagles and finished college at the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Clements</span> American actor (1926–1981)

Stanley Clements was an American actor and comedian, best known for portraying "Stash" in the East Side Kids film series, and group leader Stanislaus "Duke" Coveleskie in The Bowery Boys film series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Hickman</span> American actor (1931–2024)

Darryl Gerard Hickman was an American actor, screenwriter, television executive, and acting coach. He started his career as a child actor in the Golden Age of Hollywood and appeared in numerous television serials as an adult, including several episodes of the CBS series The Nanny. He appeared in films such as The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Leave Her to Heaven (1945).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillary Brooke</span> American actress (1914–1999)

Hillary Brooke was an American film actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Nigh</span> American actress

Bonnie Lenora "Jane" Nigh was an American actress who appeared in more than 40 films and television shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Noonan</span> American actor, screenwriter and producer (1921–1968)

Tommy Noonan was a comedy genre film performer, screenwriter and producer. He acted in a number of high-profile films as well as B movies from the 1940s through the 1960s; he is best known for his supporting performances as Gus Esmond, wealthy fiancé of Lorelei Lee, in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and as musician Danny McGuire in A Star Is Born (1954).

<i>The Romance of Helen Trent</i>

The Romance of Helen Trent was a radio soap opera which aired on CBS from October 30, 1933 to June 24, 1960 for a total of 7,222 episodes. The show was created by Frank and Anne Hummert, who were among the most prolific producers during the radio soap era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Barnett</span> American actor (1902–1977)

Vince Barnett was an American film actor. He appeared on stage originally before appearing in more than 230 films between 1930 and 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillip Reed</span> American actor

Phillip Reed was an American actor. He played Steve Wilson in a series of four films (1947–1948) based on the Big Town radio series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Griff Barnett</span> American actor (1884–1958)

Griff Barnett was an American actor.

Fighting Father Dunne is a 1948 American biographical film about the life of Father Peter Dunne, and the creation of his News Boys Home in St. Louis, Missouri. Directed by Ted Tetzlaff, the screenplay was written by Martin Rackin and Frank Davis, based on an original story by William Rankin. The film stars Pat O'Brien as Fr. Dunne, along with Darryl Hickman, Charles Kemper, Una O'Connor, Arthur Shields, Harry Shannon, Joe Sawyer, Myrna Dell, and Ruth Donnelly.

<i>Big Town After Dark</i> 1947 film by William C. Thomas

Big Town After Dark is a 1947 American crime drama film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Whitman Chambers. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Richard Travis, Ann Gillis, Vince Barnett, Joe Sawyer and Robert Kent. It was released on December 12, 1947, by Paramount Pictures.The film was the third in a series of four films based on the long-running radio program Big Town.

<i>I Cover Big Town</i> 1947 film by William C. Thomas

I Cover Big Town is a 1947 American drama film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Maxwell Shane. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery, Robert Shayne, Mona Barrie and Vince Barnett. It was released on February 27, 1947 by Paramount Pictures and was the second in the Big Town series of films.

<i>Big Town</i> (1947 film) 1947 film by William C. Thomas

Big Town is a 1947 American crime film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Daniel Mainwaring and Maxwell Shane. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery, Veda Ann Borg, Byron Barr and Charles Arnt. The first in a series of four films based on the long-running radio program Big Town, it was released on May 23, 1947 by Paramount Pictures.

Big Town is an American television dramatic series that was broadcast beginning on October 5, 1950, and ending on October 2, 1956. It began on CBS and moved to NBC in 1954.

References

  1. "Big Town Scandal (1948) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. Hal Erickson (2015). "Big-Town-Scandal - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  3. "Big Town Scandal". Afi.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.