Tear Gas Squad
| Tear Gas Squad | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Terry O. Morse |
| Produced by | Bryan Foy |
| Written by |
Charles Belden Don Ryan Kenneth Gamet |
| Starring |
Dennis Morgan John Payne Gloria Dickson |
| Music by |
Jack Scholl M.K. Jerome |
| Cinematography | Sidney Hickox |
| Edited by |
Louis Hesse Ernest J. Nims |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 55 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Tear Gas Squad is a 1940 American drama film directed by Terry O. Morse, starring Dennis Morgan, John Payne and Gloria Dickson.[1] The film was made under the working title of State Cop.[2] It includes the song I'm an Officer of the Law (M.K. Jerome, Jack Scholl).[3]
Plot summary
Tommy McCabe (Dennis Morgan) is a cocky nightclub singer who gets his jollies out of making fun of the local police force. In fact, his act includes a parody of a policeman. This does not prove amusing to pretty Jerry Sullivan (Gloria Dickson), the daughter of a police lieutenant (Harry Shannon), nor to Jerry's flatfoot boyfriend Bill Morrissey (John Payne). Falling in love with Jerry himself, Tommy joins the police force, where he is subject to the rigorous training program applied by Morrissey. Eventually suspended from the police because of his carelessness, Tommy ends up saving the day by saving Morrisey's life. Tommy is finally reinstated in the force, thus rewarding Jerry's faith in him.[4]
Cast
- Dennis Morgan as Tommy McCabe
- John Payne as Bill Morrissey
- Gloria Dickson as Jerry Sullivan
- George Reeves as Joe McCabe
- Frank Wilcox as Sgt. Crump
- Herbert Anderson as Pliny Jones
- Julie Stevens as Lois
- Harry Shannon as Lt. Sullivan
- Mary Gordon as Mrs. Sullivan
- William Gould as Capt. Henderson
- John Hamilton as Chief Ferris
- Edgar Buchanan as Cousin Andy
- Dick Rich as Cousin Pat
- William Hopper as George (as DeWolf Hopper)
Critical reception
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "Tear Gas Squad, now at the Palace, is not the sort of propaganda to inspire confidence in the guardians of the public peace, nor, for that matter, in its highly improbable plot...if the film is dubious as a tribute to the police force, it is even more so as entertainment" ;[5] while Allmovie wrote, "Tear Gas Squad manages to pack thrills, comedy, romance and songs into a neat 55-minute package." [4]
References
- ↑ "Tear Gas Squad". BFI.
- ↑ "TCM Page Not Found". Turner Classic Movies.
- ↑ "Tear Gas Squad". TV Guide.
- 1 2 "Tear Gas Squad (1940) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ↑ "Movie Review - My Favorite Wife - THE SCREEN; 'My Favorite Wife' a Lively Farce, With Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, at the Music Hall--2 Other Films - NYTimes.com".
External links
- Tear Gas Squad at the Internet Movie Database
- Tear Gas Squad at AllMovie
- Tear Gas Squad at the TCM Movie Database
- Tear Gas Squad at the American Film Institute Catalog