''Romance on the Run'' is a 1938 American comedy crime film directed by

Gus Meins Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

and starring

Donald Woods Donald James Woods (15 December 1933 – 19 August 2001) was a South African journalist and anti-apartheid activist. As editor of the ''Daily Dispatch'', he was known for befriending fellow activist Steve Biko, who was killed by police after ...

and

Patricia Ellis Patricia Ellis (born Patricia Gene O'Brien; died March 26, 1970) was an American film actress of the 1930s. Early years Born in Birmingham, Michigan, most likely in 1915 (although she gave her year of birth to the Social Security Administration ...

Plot

A very expensive necklace known as the "Czarina's Tears" is stolen from Phelps' jewelry shop. The next morning, Phelps (

Granville Bates Granville Bates (January 7, 1882 – July 8, 1940) was an American character actor and bit player, appearing in over ninety films. Biography Bates was born in Chicago in 1882 to Granville Bates, Sr., a developer and builder, and Adaline Bates ...

) goes to see insurance company manager J. W. Ridgeway (

Andrew Tombes Andrew Tombes (29 June 1885 – 17 March 1976) was an American comedian and character actor. Biography The son of a grocer, originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, Tombes was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy. Early in his career, he worked as a v ...

). Ridgeway is certain Phelps' policy was not renewed, but his young secretary, Miss Dale Harrison (

), informs him she renewed it while he was away. Lieutenant Eckhart (

William Demarest Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 27, 1983) was an American character actor, known especially for his roles in screwball comedies by Preston Sturges and for playing Uncle Charley in the sitcom '' My Three Sons'' Demarest, ...

) wants Ridgeway to leave the case entirely to the police, but Ridgeway hires private investigator Drake (

). Drake suspects nightclub singer Lily Lamont (

Grace Bradley Grace Bradley (September 21, 1913 – September 21, 2010) was an American film actress who was active in Hollywood during the 1930s. Early life Bradley was born in Brooklyn and was an only child. As a child, she took piano lessons and, by the ...

). Drake introduces Lily to

safecracker Safe-cracking is the process of opening a safe without either the combination or the key. Physical methods Different procedures may be used to crack a safe, depending on its construction. Different procedures are required to open different safes ...

Charlie Cooper ( Craig Reynolds) at the nightclub. They pretend they do not know each other, but they do. Drake breaks into Cooper's apartment to search for the necklace. Cooper discovers him and holds him at gunpoint, but Drake manages to disarm him and find the necklace. He collects his fee of $10,000, which disgusts Eckhart, who suspects Drake is involved in all the robberies he solves. Phelps shows up to retrieve his necklace, but quickly realizes it is only an imitation. Drake is told the bad news by his sidekick Whitey Whitehouse. Drake and Whitey rush to the train station (Drake found train tickets in Cooper's apartment) and spot Lily. Meanwhile, Miss Harris also arrives, trying to catch Ridgeway before he leaves on a business trip. Seeing Drake, she follows him to Cincinnati. On the way, she notifies Eckhart by telegram. In Cincinnati, Lily and Cooper visit

fence A fence is a structure that encloses an area, typically outdoors, and is usually constructed from posts that are connected by boards, wire, rails or netting. A fence differs from a wall in not having a solid foundation along its whole length. ...

Mondoon, but the necklace is too dangerous for him to handle. When Drake and Whitey show up, a chase ensues; Drake ends up with the crooks' car - and Lily's suitcase, which contains the jewelry. Now the thieves, as well as Eckhart, pursue Drake, Whitey and Gale, who head to New Orleans (and another fence) in search of the crooks. Drake's trio run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. They see a house and encounter a family of hillbillies. One of the children finds the necklace in a jar of face cream, witnessed only by Gale. Gale takes the necklace and, after trying repeatedly to tell Drake, gives up and hitches a ride, while Eckhart arrests the other four. Back at the office, Gale switches the fake necklace with the real one, bailing Drake out of trouble. Drake makes an appointment with her at the city hall, implying they are going to get married.

Cast

as Barry Drake *

as Dale Harrison *

as Lily Lamont * Edward Brophy as Whitey Whitehouse *

as Lieutenant Eckhart * Craig Reynolds as Charlie Cooper *

as J. W. Ridgeway *

Bert Roach Egbert "Bert" Roach (August 21, 1891 – February 16, 1971) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 320 films between 1914 and 1951. He was born in Washington, D.C., and died in Los Angeles, California, age 79. Selected filmogr ...

as Happy Drunk * Leon Weaver as Pappy Hatfield * Edwin Maxwell as Mondoon *

as Mr. Phelps *

Jean Joyce Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jea ...

as Dolly *

Georgia Simmons Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

as Ma Hatfield

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Romance On The Run 1938 films American black-and-white films American romantic comedy films American crime comedy films American comedy mystery films Films directed by Gus Meins Films set in Cincinnati Republic Pictures films Films with screenplays by Jack Townley 1930s comedy mystery films 1938 romantic comedy films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films