Freshly paroled from prison, photographer Richard Travis (as "Red" O'Hara) immediately goes to see his estranged wife Julie Bishop (as Molly). Hearing a man in the house, Mr. Travis believes Ms. Bishop is a "two-timing little twit" and plans to shoot the lovers. Travis changes his mind when Bishop surprises him with a red-haired baby son. Hoping to support his new family, Travis tries to get a job at "The Illustrated News" with news editor Frank Wilcox (as Cornell). They won't hire an ex-con, but "go-getter" Travis delivers exclusive photos of a bank robbery to the paper and is hired as staff photographer...
Going straight is difficult due to Travis' friendships with underworld types, like Rex Williams (as "Slim" Dugan). Even worse, Travis is assigned to enter his old prison and illegally photograph an electric chair execution. Arched acting and brisk direction, by D. Ross Lederman, make this revision of "Picture Snatcher" (1933) play nicely. The original story suggested sex between two of its stars and an independent, female co-worker; obviously, this was abandoned. Don't miss the opening minutes, or you won't see future "Honeymooners" TV comedy legend Jackie Gleason (as "Screwball" Evans).
****** Escape from Crime (7/25/42) D. Ross Lederman ~ Richard Travis, Julie Bishop, Frank Wilcox, Rex Williams