murder mystery
Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...
Captain John Winslow ( Arthur Byron) is notified by the Secretary of the Navy that his cruiser will be receiving a new firing control gear manufactured by World Electric company, which is supposed to revolutionize naval warfare. The gear vanishes and is quickly located by intelligence officers where it is being transported across the Mexican border.
When the gear is returned to the ship the secrecy surrounding the events catches the notice of reporter Walter Drake (J. Anthony Hughes). Lieutenant Tom Randolph ( Robert Taylor) and Captain Winslow welcome visitors Al Duval ( Raymond Hatton), who works for World Electric Company, and Victor Hanson ( Jean Hersholt) from the Navy Department, aboard while the gear is installed. Meanwhile, Sailor Spud Burke ( Nat Pendleton) gets caught between his sweetheart Toots Timmons ( Una Merkel) and an old flame Betty Lansing ( Jean Parker).
When the new gear is being lifted into place a cable breaks and it is dropped, later this is found to be an act of sabotage. To add to the confusion, Al Duval is murdered during a gun salute. The investigation begins and suspicions are running high when a second murder takes place, this time it is the chief electrician.
The Captain devises a plot to trap the murderer and the trail soon leads to the powder magazine, where Victor Hanson threatens to blow up the ship. Hanson claims that World Electric Company had stolen the idea and he wants revenge. Ultimately Hanson is captured and the gear is installed.
Frank Shields
Francis Xavier Alexander Shields Sr. (November 18, 1909 – August 19, 1975) was an American amateur tennis player of the 1920s and 1930s, and an actor known for '' Hoosier Schoolboy'' (1937).
Tennis career
Between 1928 and 1945 he was ranked ...
as Lt. Arnold
* Donald Cook as Lt. Cmdr. David Tucker
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Mischa Auer
Mischa Auer (born Mikhail Semyonovich Unkovsky (Михаил Семёнович Унковский; 17 November 1905 – 5 March 1967) was a Russians, Russian-born American actor who moved to Hollywood in the late 1920s. He first appeared in fi ...
as Kamchukan consul (uncredited)
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Ward Bond
Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 200 films and starred in the NBC television series ''Wagon Train'' from 1957 to 1960. Among his best-remembered roles are Ber ...
as 'Heavy' Johnson (uncredited)
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Phyllis Crane
Phyllis Crane (August 7, 1914October 12, 1982) was a Canadian-born American film actress. She appeared in over 45 films between 1928 and 1937.
Career
Crane signed with Columbia Pictures in 1934.Mary Doran as Jenny Lane (uncredited)
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Tom Dugan Thomas or Tom Dugan may refer to:
*Thomas Buchanan Dugan
Thomas Buchanan Dugan (July 27, 1858 – April 27, 1940) was a United States Army officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Biography
Dugan was born in Baltimore on July 27, 1858 ...
as 'Greasy' (uncredited)
* Fred Graham as Crewman (uncredited)
* Roger Gray as Yard Master (uncredited)
* Raymond Hatton as Mr. Al Duval (uncredited)
* Robert Livingston as Spencer - Ship's Doctor (uncredited)
* Keye Luke as Consul's Secretary (uncredited)
* George Magrill as Sailor on Watch (uncredited)
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J.P. McGowan
John Paterson McGowan (February 24, 1880 – March 26, 1952) was a pioneering Hollywood actor and director and occasionally a screenwriter and producer. McGowan remains the only Australian to have been made a life member of the Screen Directors G ...
as Chief of Police (uncredited)
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Leila McIntyre
Leila McIntyre (December 20, 1882 – January 9, 1953) was an American actress and vaudeville performer.
Early life
Leila McIntyre was from Vermont, She was on stage from childhood.
Career
Leila McIntyre was a vaudeville performer, first as ...
as Mrs. Justin (uncredited)
* Edward Norris as Sleepy - Sailor (uncredited)
* Lee Phelps as Officer Berating Guard (uncredited)
* Syd Saylor as Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
* Richard Tucker as Harry Jeffries (uncredited)
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Charles C. Wilson
Charles Cahill Wilson (July 29, 1894 – January 7, 1948) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in numerous films during the Golden Age of Hollywood from the late 1920s to late 1940s.
Biography
Born in New York City in 1894, the ...
as Cmdr. Brown (uncredited)
Crew
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George B. Seitz
George Brackett Seitz (January 3, 1888 – July 8, 1944) was an American playwright, screenwriter, film actor and director. He was known for his screenplays for action serials, such as '' The Perils of Pauline'' (1914) and ''The Exploits o ...
- Second Unit Director (uncredited)
* Al Shenberg - Assistant Director (uncredited)
* Cedric Gibbons – Art Director
* David Townsend – Associate Art Director
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Edwin B. Willis
Edwin Booth Willis (January 28, 1893 – November 26, 1963) was an American motion picture set designer and decorator.
Willis worked exclusively at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios for his entire career. During his career as a set designer Willis w ...
– Associate Art Director
* Edward Ward - composer: stock music (uncredited)
* Douglas Shearer – Recording Director
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Fred Gabourie
Fred Gabourie (September 19, 1881 - March 1, 1951) was a technical director and department head.
Gabourie was born in Tweed, Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Seneca Indian tribe. He served in the Spanish–American War.
He worked pri ...
– Set Designer (uncredited)
Box office
According to MGM records the film earned $345,000 in the US and Canada and $285,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $216,000.