There are lots of good pieces in "Under-Cover Man" - solid cast, good plot, sections of good dialogue. But the directing and editing keep this from rising to the level it could have achieved. The cops are stymied by a series of Financial District thefts, and Inspector Conklin (David Landau) is particularly frustrated when murder becomes part of the M.O. Nick Darrow (George Raft), the son of one of the victims, is a petty criminal but asks the cops if he can go undercover to break up the gang and find the killer. He enlists help from Lora (Nancy Carroll), the sister of another victim, to con the conmen and get inside. It's a good story with complicated sidebars. There is a sensuous underbelly to some of the proceedings, and a consistent feeling of danger. The end is a bit abrupt, but that's OK. Raft is excellent as Nick a.k.a. Ollie Snell, playing cool with the criminals while letting the audience know his anxiety. Carroll fared best in romantic comedies, but she's suitable here. Noel Francis is quite good as an easy dame putting the moves on Nick. Gregory Patoff and Lew Cody are hatably smarmy as the ringleaders. And always watch out for Roscoe Karns. Problem is, James Flood was never a good director. He had a good eye for angles - and that comes through here - but seemed to know nothing about pacing a scene or shooting dialogue. Actors are left to meander through wordy sections, and there's no crisp editing to clean it up. In the end, a film that could have been a stand out is simply cosi-cosi.
6 Reviews
Always Specify Noel Francis If You Search for a Siren!
JohnHowardReid28 July 2009
I entertained no great hopes for Raft's "Under-Cover Man" (1932), as it was directed by James Flood, co-helmer of the absolutely dreadful Mr Antonio (1929) and excruciatingly dull Wings in the Dark (1934). But, surprise, surprise! This one has some great action, snappy dialogue and good acting. True, there are at least three scenes that don't quite come off, despite the energetic efforts of the players, due to Flood's lax pacing and timing. Raft is in good form, although the director often allows David Landau, Roscoe Karns, Lew Cody and Gregory Ratoff to steal his scenes. And you can see why Nancy Carroll's career faded. She refused to wear Travis Banton's slinky costumes and insisted on adding a lot of fluffy clutter to the more homey designs of his assistant, Edith Head. As a result, it's Noel Francis, rather than Carroll who attracts all the attention here.
A dynamic duo!!!
kidboots16 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great crime thriller with two of my favourite stars. Why Nancy Carroll had so short a career beats me!!! It was the fashion, years ago, to write off all her movies after "Night Angel" as second rate but now with more of her films becoming available, people are realising what a unique talent was wasted. This was one of George Raft's first starring films and he and Nancy have sizzling chemistry.
Wall Street cannot cope with a daring band of crooks who pull off one robbery after another - even with police surveillance. Thousands of dollars worth of bonds are disappearing week after week. Young Jimmie Madigan (William Janney) is picked to deliver some bonds and proudly shows the pockets in his coat where he will conceal them. Kenneth Mason (Lew Cody) is also in the office and offers Jimmy a lift in his limousine. Mason, who is the mastermind behind the robberies, slays him with an ingenious weapon, a small blade that is concealed in a fountain pen.
When a "fence" is also killed, Nick Darrow (George Raft) calls on the police commissioner (David Landau) and insists on joining the under- cover squad to catch the killers. The "fence" was his father. He gets help from Lora Madigan (Nancy Carroll), Jimmie's sister and infiltrates the gang as Ollie Snell. He takes her (as his "dame") to the "Padlock Club" where they meet up with Mason and his date Connie (Noel Francis makes a welcome appearance, playing almost the same role as she played in "Blonde Crazy" (1931)). While at Mason's apartment, Lora finds a peculiar fountain pen. Mason hastily says it is a family heirloom but Lora is convinced it is the weapon that killed her brother. She is determined to get that pen even though Ollie strictly forbids it. Meanwhile Mason and his gang suspect Ollie is working under-cover for the police so they set up an elaborate ploy to expose him but he passes with flying colours. Mason orders him to help with one last job before they "blow".
When Nick finds out that Martoff (Gregory Ratoff) is the man that killed his father - he kills him. Mason, thinking Nick has already been killed, tells Lora and she hysterically spills the beans about who she and Nick really are. There is a clever twist at the end.
The fan magazines of the day gave it enthusiastic reviews. Although Nancy didn't have much to do, "Motion Picture" thought she was on her way to stardom once again. She did become more beautiful with each scene.
Highly Recommended.
Wall Street cannot cope with a daring band of crooks who pull off one robbery after another - even with police surveillance. Thousands of dollars worth of bonds are disappearing week after week. Young Jimmie Madigan (William Janney) is picked to deliver some bonds and proudly shows the pockets in his coat where he will conceal them. Kenneth Mason (Lew Cody) is also in the office and offers Jimmy a lift in his limousine. Mason, who is the mastermind behind the robberies, slays him with an ingenious weapon, a small blade that is concealed in a fountain pen.
When a "fence" is also killed, Nick Darrow (George Raft) calls on the police commissioner (David Landau) and insists on joining the under- cover squad to catch the killers. The "fence" was his father. He gets help from Lora Madigan (Nancy Carroll), Jimmie's sister and infiltrates the gang as Ollie Snell. He takes her (as his "dame") to the "Padlock Club" where they meet up with Mason and his date Connie (Noel Francis makes a welcome appearance, playing almost the same role as she played in "Blonde Crazy" (1931)). While at Mason's apartment, Lora finds a peculiar fountain pen. Mason hastily says it is a family heirloom but Lora is convinced it is the weapon that killed her brother. She is determined to get that pen even though Ollie strictly forbids it. Meanwhile Mason and his gang suspect Ollie is working under-cover for the police so they set up an elaborate ploy to expose him but he passes with flying colours. Mason orders him to help with one last job before they "blow".
When Nick finds out that Martoff (Gregory Ratoff) is the man that killed his father - he kills him. Mason, thinking Nick has already been killed, tells Lora and she hysterically spills the beans about who she and Nick really are. There is a clever twist at the end.
The fan magazines of the day gave it enthusiastic reviews. Although Nancy didn't have much to do, "Motion Picture" thought she was on her way to stardom once again. She did become more beautiful with each scene.
Highly Recommended.
Nancy Carroll
januszlvii6 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I love pre code films, but one star I never saw before was Nancy Carroll. It is probably because her films are rarely screened coupled with she did musicals and those are a no no with me. She is the reason to see Under-Cover Man. She very much reminds me of Clara Bow ( and I like Clara). Her character Lara Madigan teams up with small time crook Nick Darrow ( George Raft) to find out who killed her brother and his father. It is a plot very similar to The Widow From Chicago. Interesting enough Nancy was coming to the end of her career as was Alice White in The Widow From Chicago, and Raft was starting out playing tough guys as was Edward G. Robinson in Widow From Chicago ( although Raft was good here and Robinson was bad there). I have seen better from Raft ( Nocturne for one), although spoilers ahead: He does end up with Nancy. There is a nice twist at the end ( one I did not see coming and I will not spoil). which elevates it from good to very good. 8/10 stars. ps. It is available on YouTube.
Dull Performances
boblipton21 January 2021
George Raft gives one of his most disconnected and wooden performances as a hustler whose father is killed. He goes to the police and asks if he can go undercover to help them deal with the rash of securities robberies that's hooked into the situation. Some one has been hitting the runners who carry large sums of cash and bearer bonds.
While Raft looked good, his acting was always a bit, ah, subtle for my taste, and leaving him under the supervision of programmer director James Flood can't have helped; Gregory Ratoff and Nancy Carroll seem disconcerted at all times. Flood had grown up in the same neighborhood as William Beaudine, and lived near him in California. He had a decent, if minor career as a movie director from 1921 through 1937, and was working as a director of the syndicated RACKET SQUAD shortly before his death at 57 in 1953.
While Raft looked good, his acting was always a bit, ah, subtle for my taste, and leaving him under the supervision of programmer director James Flood can't have helped; Gregory Ratoff and Nancy Carroll seem disconcerted at all times. Flood had grown up in the same neighborhood as William Beaudine, and lived near him in California. He had a decent, if minor career as a movie director from 1921 through 1937, and was working as a director of the syndicated RACKET SQUAD shortly before his death at 57 in 1953.
Van der Graaf Generator's best song....and an ok film.
1930s_Time_Machine8 October 2023
It's a pretty good story but not that good a film. The problem is that never feels alive, nobody seems real, there's nothing to engage with but it still keeps your attention.
Undercover Man is the best track on VDGG's Godbluff album (1975) and is a lot more interesting than this film.
If you not sure whether George Raft is the most wooden actor of Hollywood's golden age then this will confirm your worst suspicions. The plot however keeps him busy enough for you not to notice his acting limitations. The plot is pretty good and could have been the basis of a fantastic movie had it been made by a different director with a different cast and a different scriptwriter. Besides George Raft (who for some reason have had a huge fan-base) and David Landau (who makes George Raft seem like Laurence Olivier), the other problem is that nobody is at all likeable. You couldn't care less what happens to them.
Nancy Carroll wasn't flavour of the month at Paramount by the time she was in this, she wanted meatier dramatic roles, she believed she was too good for these run of the mill type movies - her lack of enthusiasm shows in this and it didn't do much for her career. Nevertheless she was a good actress (as she showed in DEVIL'S HOLIDAY and BROKEN LULLABY) and is one of the few people in this picture who manages to seem like real person.
Undercover Man is the best track on VDGG's Godbluff album (1975) and is a lot more interesting than this film.
If you not sure whether George Raft is the most wooden actor of Hollywood's golden age then this will confirm your worst suspicions. The plot however keeps him busy enough for you not to notice his acting limitations. The plot is pretty good and could have been the basis of a fantastic movie had it been made by a different director with a different cast and a different scriptwriter. Besides George Raft (who for some reason have had a huge fan-base) and David Landau (who makes George Raft seem like Laurence Olivier), the other problem is that nobody is at all likeable. You couldn't care less what happens to them.
Nancy Carroll wasn't flavour of the month at Paramount by the time she was in this, she wanted meatier dramatic roles, she believed she was too good for these run of the mill type movies - her lack of enthusiasm shows in this and it didn't do much for her career. Nevertheless she was a good actress (as she showed in DEVIL'S HOLIDAY and BROKEN LULLABY) and is one of the few people in this picture who manages to seem like real person.
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