Slightly Honorable (1940)

Edward Arnold is the head of a crooked political machine. Pat O'Brien is an attorney out to get him. Broderick Crawford is his assistant. They hope to get a bill introduced to require all contracts to be by bid. Claire Dodd is an old flame of O'Brien's who is now keeping company with Arnold. At Arnold's club, O'Brien learns that his featured dancer, Ruth Terry, is only eighteen. Later he sees Bernard Nedell trying to manhandle Terry and knocks him out. Terry becomes smitten with O'Brien, and becomes somewhat of a pest. She is not overly bright, and continually gets him into embarrassing situations. Dodd asks him to come to her apartment to add to her insurance policy a bracelet that Arnold gave her. Terry is jealous. At the apartment, O'Brien finds Dodd murdered, and swears to find who did it. He eventually does, after several twists and turns. The culprit? It is Crawford, in a nice surprise ending.

Willie Best is the elevator operator, and, as usual, steals the show.

Terry made a number of western movies. Here is a very nice LINK about her movie career.




Crawford


Terry