The Fighting Rookie (1934) On DVD

Popular big-screen tough guy Jack LaRue finds himself on the right side of the law in this punchy crime drama from prolific action director Spencer Gordon Bennet. Hearing a scream, rookie patrolman Jim Trent rushes to a woman's rescue, only to be knocked out cold for his trouble. He doesn't know it yet, but he's been set up as the patsy for a daring daylight robbery of the Pioneer Silk Warehouse by ruthless gangster Louis Cantor. Since the evidence against him is flimsy, Jim is given a second chance by the police commissioner to go under cover and bust Cantor's crime ring from within. Jim is determined to do the job and gain both retribution and redemption.

Born Gaspere Biondolillo in New York City, Jack La Rue (1902-84) was a Broadway veteran before being discovered by director Howard Hawks. Although he specialized in playing thugs and gangsters in such films as Enemy Agent (1940), Hard Guy (1941) and the controversial No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948), he demonstrated his versatility with roles in the 1932 version of A Farewell to Arms, Captains Courageous (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940). On television, he was first host of the popular horror series "Lights Out!" from 1949-50. Renowned as "The King of the Serial Directors," Spencer Gordon Bennet (1893-1987) began as a Hollywood stuntman before making the transition to directing during the silent era, enjoying a career that spanned over 50 years. He is best known for the more than 100 serials he made, including Superman (1948), Atom Man Vs. Superman (1949), Batman and Robin (1949) and Captain Video (1951).

A rookie cop gets trapped by hodlums, and the police repremand and transfer him. He is then asked to risk his family, ruin his reputation, and possibly his life to help bring down The Mob.