You Can’t Escape Forever (1942)

Very fast moving drama/comedy with a special cast of well known actors; one of several remakes of Hi Nellie! (1934). Directed by Jo Graham Roy Chanslor’s story was treated by Fred Niblo Jr. (The Criminal Code (1931)) & Hector Chevigny. George Brent is a newspaper editor driven by his ear twitching hunches; Charles Halton is his assist who is intent on replacing him (competing for Brent’s job). Brenda Marshall is a reporter assigned to report on the execution of one of Greer’s (a crime boss) flunkies. She faints and misses the 11th hour save by the crime boss then reports incorrectly (that he was executed) to boss Brent who had correctly predicted the crime boss’ action (via an ear twitch). She is therefore "sentenced " by Brent to be the lovelorn reporter on the staff a job nobody wants. A nut named Crowder who like Brent had predicted the save and had been compiling incriminating evidence against the crime boss turns up dead. While investigating Crowder’s death Brent riles the crime boss who pressures Brent’s boss the owner of the paper – Paul Harvey into dumping him down to the lovelorn reporter job. Brent believes that if he does the lovelorn reporter job extremely well he’ll get back his old job. His plan fails however when his efforts cause an increase in the paper’s circulation. So he decides to pursue the mob boss himself with help from (Brenda) and his photographer friend played by Roscoe Karns.

*** SPOILERS ***

Their investigation leads them to a dance marriage hall run by Carl Robelink played by Gene Lockhart. The convoluted fast paced plot becomes as much if not more comedy than drama but eventually the bad guys are caught and Brent gets back his job assigning his rival Halton as the new lovelorn reporter.

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