Newspaper reporter vs. fifth column cell
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 01/26/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Cult movie fans are sure to recognize Betty Compson in her minor role in ROAR OF THE PRESS.
SYNOPSIS--
Honeymooning reporter Wally Williams (Ford) sees a man fall to his death. Gordon MacEwan (Prouty), Wally's editor insists that he stay on the story. A newpaper ad clutched in the dead man's hand leads Wally to a second corpse in a hotel room. Further clues here reveal a nightclub that's a hangout for fifth columnists. After being warned by gangster Sparrow McGraun (Fix) to back off, both Wally and bride Alice (Parker) are kidnapped by associates of an importing company. Sparrow aids Wally's escape and the two men go in search of Alice.
ALPHA VIDEO is a provider of vintage programming that's often unavailable elsewhere. Their prices are fair, but so is transfer quality of some of their offerings. None have undergone restoration, yet this product's rareness and an honest price make it a worthwhile purchase.
Also from ALPHA:
SHAKE HANDS WITH MURDER (1944) is a comic mystery about a lady bail bondsman and her partner's attempts to clear the name of an accused embezzler.
Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.
(6.5) Roar of the Press (1941) - Jean Parker/Wallace Ford/Jed Prouty/Suzanne Kaaren/Harland Tucker/Evelyn Knapp/Paul Fix/Betty Compson (uncredited: I. Stanford Jolley)
CAST TRIVIA--
Character actor WALLACE FORD (Wally) was raised in a British orphanage.
JEAN PARKER (Alice) was an accomplished clothing designer.
JED PROUTY (MacEwan) was famous for his on-screen stuttering. He began in show biz as a vaudeville song & dance man.
In the 1950s, PAUL FIX (McGraun) was kindly Marshal Micah Torrance on TV's "The Rifleman."
SUZANNE KAAREN (Angela) appeared with the 3 Stooges in "Disorder in the Court" (1936). Her legs were once insured for $1 million.
BETTY COMPSON (Thelma Tate) was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in 1928. Her career eventually sank to the 'B' grade and lower level."