Review of Invisible Stripes (1939) by Muhammad K — 17 Apr 2012

Invisible Stripes (1940).

Cliff Taylor (George Raft) and Chuck Martin (Humphrey Bogart) are getting released from Sing Sing. Cliff is out early on parol and Chuck did his full stint. On the train ride home, Cliff tells Chuck that he's going to go straight, but Chuck tells him that he's got invisible stripes and they'll always treat him like a crook outside.

Despite all of his efforts to play by the rules, Cliff has trouble getting work with a prison record. He's even wrongly accused of breaking into a store. Worse, still, his younger brother, Tim (William Holden) is struggling too and is tempted to go for the easy money of a life of crime.

So, you know that poor Cliff is going to reach out to his old buddy, Chuck and get some ill-gotten money for his family to live on. But, you know that crime, it doesn't pay. :-).

Yeah, I know it's the same old gangster movie, but with the cast it comes off pretty good; well worth taking a look at.