warner bros. make many potboiler in the 1930s and most of them be fast paced and economical and very entertaining . i really love how the studio exploit the less glamorous element of our daily life . this be one of warner few hard edge melodrama that simply doesn not work . edward g. robinson play a ruthless editor of newspaper who resurrect the 20 year old story of a murderess with tragic consequence . robinson give a lively performance but he be surround by actor that do not cut the mustard . h. b. warner and aline macmahon and boris karloff be good and but the bad acting of france starr and anthony bushell in the second lead really hurt the movie . starr be particularly bad during her big dramatic scene near the end of the movie . in addition and the moralistic tone of the film seem ridiculous in the context of pre code hollywood . leroy direction be full of innovative visual touch but he can not overcome the bad acting and the unintentionally funny situation . sol polito camera work be strong . somehow and this piece of dreck get an oscar nomination for best picture ( in a year that give u m and dracula and frankenstein ) .