They Made Me a Killer (1946)

Robert Lowery has worked for a garage that fixes up old heaps into jalopies - until his brother is killed in a hot rod accident. Then he leaves town and stops at a used car lot to sell his car to Lola Lane. He gets a room overnight at a cheap boarding house. The next morning Lane's boyfriend shows up to buy the car supposedly, but he and his friend rob the bank and force Lowery to drive his car in the getaway. He deliberately wrecks the car, but he is knocked out and the rest of the gang get away. He is captured. Byron Barr saw the whole thing, but he was shot in the holdup. He undergoes emergency surgery, but he is not able to say anything, so Lowery makes a break. On the way out of the hospital he bumps into Barbara Britton, who is Barr's sister coming to check on him. He disguises himself in surgical garb. He escapes, and the police throw out a state-wide dragnet. Barr dies.

Lowery meets Britton at the train station and talks her into working with him to clear him and her brother's name. Lowery tries to get a blacksmith to take off his handcuffs, but he recognizes him and pulls a gun on him. Britton sneaks up behind the blacksmith and knocks him out. Lowery remembers that the girl that was a part of the gang talked like a hash house waitress. They find clippings in her clothes that give a clue to her location. They hitchhike there. She gets a job in a cafe, but Lowery won't let her do it because of the danger. He sneaks out that night to the cafe and surprises the gang. They claim they do not have the money, Britton turns out the lights and a fight ensues. Lowery is captured, but Britton still has her job in the cafe. Lowery is assigned to do odd jobs in the cafe. They come up with a plan to escape, but it backfires when the gang leader shows up, who knows Britton. However, two local policemen show up who hear the gang talking over the jukebox, which Lowery has wired up. The big final fight and chase scene heats up - naturally. And Lowery wins the girl - naturally




Barr













Lane


Britton