“Half a Sinner” (1940)

Half a Sinner

Brief Description:

Schoolteacher Anne Gladden has the spring in her blood and just wants to kick the traces. When her coworker Margaret reminds her she isn’t getting any younger and being too studious leaves no room to meet love, Anne decides to be mad, glad, and young. She dresses up and goes off for a day in town. When she is frightened by a hood’s unwanted attention, Anne finds herself thoughtlessly stealing his car to escape. Things only get worse when she picks up a young man whose car broke down and he discovers a dead body in the back of her car. How will they escape the police on their track? And who is the real criminal? 

(written by me)

Date: 1940

Genre: American comedy mystery adventure

Running time: 59 minutes

Cast: 

Heather Angel (Anne Gladden)

John “Dusty” King (Lawrence Cameron)

Constance Collier (Mrs. Jefferson Breckenbridge)

Walter Catlett (Station Attendant)

Tom Dugan (Red Egan)

Robert Elliott (Officer Kelly)

Clem Bevans (Snuffy)

Emma Dunn (Granny Gladden)

Henry Brandon (Handsome)

William B. Davidson (Slick Kopesco)

Fern Emmett (Margaret Reed)

Sonny Bupp (Willy)

Wilbur Mack (Mason)

Joe Devlin (Steve, Kopesco’s henchman)

Director: Al Christie

Production company: Arcadia Pictures

Based on: Dalton Trumbo (“Lady Takes a Chance”)

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Super 1940s, but a different aesthetic than most 1940s crime films I’ve seen. This one is the open road, teahouses, and cute little cottages with lovely kitchens! 

Characters: 5/5

Anne is adorable, and there’s no other word for it. She’s sooo pretty and sooo cute! She’s super innocent and can’t help telling the truth to Lawrence—and he’s the perfect partner: quick talker, quick thinker, protective, witty… and awfully handsome, lol! Mrs. Jefferson Breckenbridge was hilarious and delightful (poor Mason) and the Station Attendant was a hoot’n’a half. The criminals and cop were all great comedic reliefs, too. ;)

Plot: 5/5

The synopsis I wrote doesn’t do the story justice! It’s actually super humorous and very sweet, with plenty of action and excitement. Even the whole part with the criminals and murder is very light-hearted and non-disturbing at all—it’s more slapstick than anything else. And the twist at the end—and Mrs. Jefferson Breckenbridge’s reveal—is just epic!!

Romance: 5/5

Anne & Lawrence are the cutest, bestest couple ;) 

Content: 5/5 (low)

A kiss; lying.

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Mostly slapstick violence. 

Overall: 5/5

Such a fun, cute, exciting, light-hearted vintage film, with excellent humour! One of my favs :)