SECRETS OF A COED (director: Joseph H. Lewis; screenwriter: story by George Wallace Sayre/George Wallace Sayre; cinematographer: Robert E. Cline; editor: Charles Henkel Jr. ; cast: Otto Kruger (James Reynolds), Tina Thayer (Brenda Reynolds), Russell Hoyt (Bill), Rick Vallin (Nick Jordan), Marcia Mae Jones (Laura Wright), Patricia Knox (Flo), Claire Rochelle (Secretary), Addison Richards (DA), Geraldine Spreckels (Tessie Smith), Diana Del Rio (Maria), Herb Vigram (Soapy); Runtime: 67; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Alfred Stern/Arthur Alexander; ; 1942)
“This lame crime drama would be as bad as it sounds, except Lewis is such a craftsman that he puts in enough of his noted touches to make it a less criminal watch.“
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
One of the more forgettable films of the talented veteran B-film director Joseph H. Lewis(“The Halliday Brand”/”The Big Combo”/”The Undercover Man”). The script is by George Wallace Sayre, whose story is adapted for the film.
James Reynolds (Otto Kruger) poses as a prominent criminal lawyer while secretly connected to the underworld as a crime lord. When his loose-living bratty college co-ed daughter Brenda (Tina Thayer), who doesn’t know of dad’s double-life, falls madly in love with the handsome but punky young thug Nick (Rick Vallin), one of dad’s gang members, she’s ordered to stop seeing him. When his orders are not obeyed, the crime boss orders a hit on the boyfriend. When the hit is botched, Brenda finds herself charged with the murder. This lame crime drama would be as bad as it sounds, except Lewis is such a craftsman that he puts in enough of his noted touches to make it less criminal to watch it. My favorite bit has Diana Del Rio, who plays Kruger’s romantic interest, sings at the local club the campy song “Brazilly Willy.”
REVIEWED ON 1/11/2015 GRADE: C+
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DENNIS SCHWARTZ