Dragnet Patrol

Glen Tryon is on shore leave with buddy Vernon Dent, who's married to Marjorie Beebe.They introduce Glen to Vera Reynolds, and the kids fall hard for each other. Glen and Vernon quit the navy and go to work as fishermen, but Vera hates the smell of fish he brings home, and she wants the things money can buy, so he takes up running rum for a fellow named Tony.

I'm all in favor of a story told quickly, but Scott Darling's script is little more than a sketch, with plot driving character whenever a change of pace is needed. Also, while most of the cast is good -- and it's a pleasure to see Vernon Dent stretch himself a bit in a sizable role in a feature, as well as Walter Long and George Hayes before he became Gabby -- Miss Reynolds' line reading is pretty poor. Certainly she's a fine physical performer, but it quickly becomes clear why this pretty Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty and WAMPAS star of 1926 would make only three more movies the following year, then retire. She would die in 1962, 62 years of age.