Swell Guy (1946) DVD-R

Starring Sonny Tufts, Ann Blyth, Ruth Warrick, William Gargan, John Litel, Thomas Gomez,
Charles Lane
Directed by Frank Tuttle

Print: black/white
Runtime: 87 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

One of many films of the late 1940s examining the impact of WWII on post-war domestic life
in the U.S., The Swell Guy is the story of an unprincipled war correspondent, Jim Duncan
(Sonny Tufts). Jim has returned to his hometown following the war and tries to milk his
wartime status and pose as a hero. He's actually a corrupt con man who exploits the good
graces of his brother Martin (William Gargan) and tries to woo Martin's wife Ann (Ruth
Warrick). Jim cheats the townspeople by staging rigged craps games, and he engages in
other nefarious schemes that depend on the local citizens' naïve trust in the supposed war
hero. Jim finally steals money from the town's charity campaign for war veterans and tries
to leave town before his misdeeds catch up to him. But Jim gets a chance for redemption
and real heroism when he alone can save his nephew's life. This film was directed by Frank
Tuttle and based on the book The Hero by Gilbert Emery.