Thursday, January 9, 2020

LET 'EM HAVE IT

Richard Arlen with Bruce Cabot in the background
LET 'EM HAVE IT (1935). Director: Sam Wood.

Federal agents Mal Stevens (Richard Arlen), Van Rensseler (Harvey Stephens), and Tex Logan (Gordon Jones of The Green Hornet) are up against a formidable foe in Joe Keefer (Bruce Cabot), who has organized a gang of ex-cons, many of which he sprung from a prison farm, to engineer a series of bank robberies. Joe was originally a chauffeur for Eleanor Spencer (Virginia Bruce), who was once very close to Van but now has feelings for Mal. Unfortunately, Eleanor gets angry with Mal when he is unable to prevent her kid brother, Buddy (Eric Linden), from becoming a G-Man, with tragic results.

Eric Linden and Richard Arlen
Under the direction of Sam Wood, Let 'Em Have It is a fast-paced, well-acted, and entertaining cops vs robbers movie. Although mostly forgotten today, even by film buffs, Richard Arlen (Island of Lost Souls) was a handsome and charismatic leading man for most of his career, which comprised nearly 200 credits. Other players in this flick include Alice Brady [When Ladies Meet], as Eleanor's man-hungry Aunt Ethel, and Barbara Pepper as one of Cabot's blond molls, Milly. Pepper later gained a lot of weight and appeared more than once on I Love Lucy. Sam Wood also directed Goodbye, Mr. Chips in 1939 and a great many others.

Verdict: Snappy picture hasn't a dull moment. ***. 
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2 comments:

  1. angelman66January 11, 2020 at 10:08 AM

    I'll look for this one. Sam Wood was also one of the unbilled directors on GWTW, filming most of the action sequences including Scarlett's rape scene where she is rescued by Big Sam. Barbara Pepper was one of Lucy's best friends; when Pepper fell on hard times inclusing a bout w alcoholism, Lucy and Desi kept her working steadily in bit roles on their Desilu series, and finally, she was able to obtain the recurring role of Mrs. Ziffel (the pig's mother!) on Greenacres. She, like Lucy, was a beautiful Goldwyn showgirl and I bet she is lovely in this one.
    -C

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  2. WilliamJanuary 11, 2020 at 10:26 AM

    I completely forgot that Pepper was Mrs. Ziffel! I used to love that pig (I mean Arnold, not Barbara!)

    I'm glad Lucy never forgot old friends who needed work and a helping hand. I can see Pepper in the butcher shop buying steaks from Lucy in the episode when she buys -- and gets locked -- in an old freezer and she an Ethel buy two sides of beef!

    Sam Wood is rarely if ever mentioned in the same league as more famous and acclaimed directors but he did some great work -- including GWTW at you mention -- and is due for re-evaluation.

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