The Zero Hour

Otto Kruger is a Broadway powerhouse: director, producer, star. He's particularly proud of Frieda Inescourt, who he's trained, now co-stars with him, and is about to marry him. However on the way to the Justice of the Peace, they get into a traffic accident, and Kruger's spin is broken. Miss Inescourt still wants to marry him, but he says no.

Fast forward ahead seven years. Miss Inescourt is a leading actress, and Kruger a recluse, living in a penthouse just off Broadway. She still wants to marry him. He still says no. Then she says she wants to adopt an orphan, Ann E. Todd. Kruger is enchanted. He can tell her stories, just like they had married. Enter Donald Douglas, who wants to adopt the child, and does before Miss Inescourt can, despite the objections of his fiancee, Adrienne Ames, and the situation grows even more complicated.

It's an ambitious and not at all Code-compliant movie from Republic, but director Sidney Salkow does not let any of the complications or subtleties blossom -- with only 65 minutes, he hardly has time. The result is a straight love triangle with a couple of interesting speeches by Kruger.