Public Enemy's Wife

Cesar Romero is a con man in prison in Public Enemy's Wife, from 1936. He plays Gene Maroc, whose wife Judith (Margaret Lindsay) served time because she refused to tell the police anything.

Judith is released first and wants nothing to do with Maroc. Maroc threatens to kill her once he's out.

Judith splits and dyes her hair from blond to brunette. The FBI is still interested in talking to her and getting some info. The agents, Lee Laird and Robert Armstrong (Pat O'Brien, Gene Ferguson) attempt to find her. When they finally catch up with her, she's engaged to be married. And Maroc is out and after her. The agents figure if she goes through with the wedding, it will bring Maroc to them.

Part drama and part comedy, this is an entertaining film, with the underrated Cesar Romero as a villain. Romero was a dancer, an actor, he was suave, he was dashing, and he could play a crook. In short he could do anything. He is also very impressive in "Captain from Castile," another departure for him.

Pat O'Brien does a good job in the lead, and Margaret Lindsay is appropriately hard-boiled at first, later softening.

Enjoyable.