Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It

gordon-harker-standing-in-boat

On May 17, 1941, Twentieth Century – Fox released the third and last Inspector Hornleigh feature film, Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It. The series blends comedy and crime drama to create a unique product. Gordon Harker plays Inspector Hornleigh, while Alistair Sims reprises his role as Sgt. Bingham. The film (affiliate link) opens with Inspector Hornleigh dictating his memoirs to

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Pretty Boy Floyd’s St. Louis Robbery

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In 1934, Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd ended his criminal career in an East Liverpool, Ohio corn field after a shoot out with FBI agents and local law enforcement officers.  However, in December 1925, he was inmate number 29078 at the Missouri Penitentiary.  The 21-year-old Floyd had just been convicted of robbing the Kroeger Grocery and Baking Company main office

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Policewomen Break Up Theft Ring in 1919

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The Tuesday Evening, February 18, 1919, edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch detailed the arrest of two men and two women for the theft of numerous luxury items.  Aware that a shoplifting ring was working a couple of the local jewelry stores, the St. Louis Police Department assigned several undercover police women to follow the suspects.  Their work resulted in the

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Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday (1939)

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On December 1, 1939, Twentieth Century-Fox released Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday (1939), the second film in the three film series. Gordon Harker starred as Scotland Yard Inspector Hornleigh. The film opens in Brighton-on-the-Sea, where a storm has kept Inspector Hornleigh and his assistant Sergeant Bingham, played by Alastair Sim, inside for their first few vacation days. Following the rule in

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Chief Desmond Gets a Confession

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St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond was known for his ability to gain confessions from criminals.  Unlike other detectives, who would sometimes use physical intimidation, Desmond eschewed the “third degree”.  Chief Desmond believed information obtained by beating suspects was completely unreliable. Desmond would start a discussion with the suspect.  After putting him or her at ease, Desmond would let

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Passport to Suez (1943)

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On August 19, 1943, Columbia Pictures released Passport to Suez (1943). Warren William plays Michael Lanyard, the Lone Wolf, for the final time in this film (affiliate link). The film opens in Alexandria, Egypt, where Lanyard has just arrived. Lanyard meets up with his old friend Johnny Booth, a successful cafe’ owner. However, Lanyard’s real purpose is a mission for

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