Police Rookie (1940; 66 minutes): Racketeers have overrun the city by
killing anyone who stands in their way. A veteran police inspector who threatens
their domination is murdered. His son, Steve Hannigan, vows revenge and becomes
a cop. As he penetrates the layers of corruption surrounding the criminal
syndicate, he discovers that their organization is far more powerful than he ever imagined.
The first official release from PRC, Police Rookie (aka, I Take This Oath)
was directed by Sam Newfield, who would go on to direct more features for the
company than anyone else. Gordon Jones, the film's muscular, driven star, is
better known for his role as the Green Hornet in the Universal serial (1940) and
"Mike the Cop" in "The Abbott and Costello Show" (1952).
Marked Men (1940; 71 minutes): Fingered for a crime he didn't commit
and facing 10 years in the state penitentiary, Bill Carver escapes imprisonment
and finds shelter in a small Arizona town. When the gang that framed him shows
up, he sees his chance for revenge. Offering to guide the crooks out of the
desert, Carver gambles his own life in a winner-takes-all game of survival. With
their water supply dwindling, Bill leads the men on a death march, hoping to
draw a confession out of the criminals and clear his name.
Starring: Gordon Jones & Warren Hull
Directed by: Sherman Scott (Sam Newfield)
Police Rookie & Marked Men (DVD Movie) . . .
