This short film “Calling All Cars” was inspired by a police-drama radio program of the same name.
A precursor to the popular police drama “Dragnet”, “Calling All Cars” portrayed the true crime stories of the Los Angeles Police Department and was hosted by Chief of Police James E. Davis. This black-and-white film is presented by General Film Productions and features a script by Michael Morris. In addition to Chief of Police James E. Davis, the cast includes Tom Dwain, Jack O’Shea, Cherie Fey, George Mitchel, Doris Jans, Maureen Loomis and others. The film begins with an introduction by Chief Davis followed by a dramatized reenactment of a bank robbery in Los Angeles in the 1920S.
Two men are beating another man (00:06). “Calling All Cars” title banner (00:13). Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police James E. Davis (01:02). A target used for shooting practice (01:30). A line of policemen at the shooting range to practice (01:38). Two officers and the Chief of Police demonstrates the accuracy of their shooting (02:09). Cigarettes are shot out of the hands of a brave policeman (2:39). Other forms of trick and novelty shooting are shown while Davis talks proudly about how many criminals are shot by the extremely accurate marksmen of the LAPD.
Character Mary enters a room with her sibling character Larry, and they discuss a recent bank robbery (03:52). She leaves Larry in the room (04:42). He walks outside to meet character Charlie in Charlie’s car (05:26). Four characters; Bill, Jim, Bettie, and Evelyn play a game of poker (06:08). Larry and Charlie arrive (06:38). They have a drink together (06:57). Charlie hands Larry a small figure representing discretion (07:12). Charlie then asks the poker player to leave, and he and Larry sit at the poker table (07:36). Larry gets home, where Mary is, and they discuss his new job as a bodyguard for Charlie (08:00). A framed photograph of their sick mother (08:55). Back at Charlie’s joint, Larry, his sister, Charlie, and Doris are seated at a table (08:59). Charlie hands Larry a gun and they leave for work (09:25). The two girls start arguing and fighting (09:44). Larry drives his sister home (09:52). He then arrives at Charlie’s joint, and a business discussion begins between Jim, Bill, Charlie, and Larry (10:19). Charlie and Larry park their car outside a bank where Larry’s sister works (11:05). They enter to complete an armed robbery (11:27). Mary is hiding behind a desk where she presses and emergency button (11:41). The police are alerted, and they rush to the scene (12:17). The robbers run out of the bank (12:50). Mary informs other bank employees, that she ticketed the alarm (13:04). Larry is shot outside the bank (13:17). The police are chasing the other robbers through town by car (13:31). The police catch Charlie, Jim, and Bill after the robbery (16:14). He is searched and arrested in the street (16:27). In a courtroom Larry is sentenced to death (17:14). Mary and Larry talk through the fence around the prison. Crime does not pay. (17:32). “The End” on screen (18:15).
The story is written by Michael Morris, and edited by Charles Henkel, with sound by International Sound Engineers and photography by RDCNCR. The cast consists of Tom Dwain as Larry, Jack O’Shea as Charlie, Cherie Fay as Mary, Arthur Loft as Bill, George Mitchel as Jim, Doris Jans as Doris, Maureen Loomis as Helen, Betty Manchiont as Bettie, and Evelyn Stevens as Evelyn.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
