Step by Step (1946)

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Okay RKO programmer. Though released in 1946, the premise involves Nazis trying to keep their goals alive. Actually, the script makes reference to historical Germany (Bismarck) as "enemies of civilization", no less. Anyhow, discharged marine Johnny (Tierney) gets accidentally mixed up with the Nazi remnants, and gets blamed for murders the die-hards actually committed. Good thing he's got help from comely blonde Evelyn (Jeffreys) and motel owner (Cleveland).The remainder involves a lot of sometimes aimless chasing around. For me, the highlights are the expertly photographed ocean views. To its credit, this programmer goes beyond the usual cramping studio sets.Looks like RKO was promoting Tierney as studio stud since he spends movie's first third shirtless, sporting manly pecs and flat belly. He does well enough in hero's role, but his real charisma showed through as emotionless villains, e.g. (Born to Kill, {1947}). To bad for his career he couldn't stay off the juice and barroom brawls. (Apparently, he scared the heck out of the amiable cast of Seinfeld, {1989-1998}, when he appeared in an episode.) Nonetheless he was a distinctive screen presence, though that presence doesn't really come through here. All in all, director Rosen keeps things moving, which helps divert attention from a convoluted narrative. But my guess is that the script was hastily reworked once the big war ended. Happily, RKO soon turned to noir.

***SPOILERS*** With the war over and Nazi Germany in total ruin those crazy and determined Nazis on the lamb in the USA are again planning to restore the Third, now Forth, Reich to it's past glories in a plan step by step to undermine the very nations, lead by the USA, that defeated them. This insane plan is uncovered by US Senator Remmy,Harry Harvey, who's OSS Agent and close friend Blackton, Addison Richards,has by going undercover uncovered it. Not wasting any time the Nazis headed by on the run wanted war criminal Von Dorn, Lowell Gilmore, make short work of Sen. Remmy's plans to expose them by kidnapping Remmy and his sexy blond private secretary of only one day Evelyn Smith, Anne Jefferys, while at the same time offing Blackton in the process.It just happened that just released from the service shell-shocked, from action in the South Pacific, US Marine Sgt. Johnny Christopher, Lawrence Tierney, and his cute and faithful mutt Bazooka happened to drop in dressed only in his boxer shorts, his clothes got locked in his car, to save the day as well as the nation from a Nazi takeover that was in progress. Johnny had gotten very friendly with Evelyn who in fact wouldn't give him the time of day by meeting her on the beach while she was taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean. With both Evelyn and Sen. Remmy kidnapped by the Nazis lead by Von Dron Johnny in looking for her to ask Evelyn out, with only his shorts on, for a date smelled that there was something fishy going on with the more or less plain Jane looking Gretchen, Myrna Dell, impersonating the beautiful Evelyn claiming to be the girl, Evelyn Smith, that he was looking for.***SPOILERS*** It's fast and furious action with Jonny & Evelyn now fugitives from justice in being mistaken as Nazi spies & saboteurs on the run from the police & FBI getting help from the kindly motel owner Capt. Simpson played by George Cleveland ,of later TV "Lassie" fame, who got the drop on Van Dorn by his claiming to have gone fishing in the salt filled Picific Ocean and having caught fresh water fish! Kidnapped beaten and taken for a ride to be deep sixth in the Pacific Ocean Johnny screws the Nazis by using the tail lights of the car their driving to give out an SOS that brought the entire local police state troopers national guard as well as members of the US Navy down on them!

Recently having seen Lawrence Tierney's hilarious guest appearance in an episode of Seinfeld called The Jacket for the first time,I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my dad had recently picked up a Film Noir starring Tierney.Looking at the running time stated on the DVD box (61 minutes!),I began to get more hope up that Tierney's lean'n' mean side would be on full display for this "quota quickie".The plot:Being ordered to take a short break from her work,newly appointed secretary Evelyn Smith decides to go for a swim at a near by beach.As Smith starts to relax by the beach,an ex-Marine called Johnny Christopher appears from out of nowhere,and right away,seems to have his eyes only on Evelyn.Despite originally being unease around him,Smith soon begins to fall for Christopher's charm.Later on,Evelyn has to leave Johnny on the beach, so that she can get back to work on time.As she heads back to her work place.Not being someone who gives up easily,Christopher is soon back on Evelyn's trail and heads straight to the mansion front door of her workplace.Loudly knocking on the door,Johnny is soon met by a waiter,who introduces him to the secretary of the building:Evelyn Smith.To Christopher's complete shock,Evelyn seems to have changed into a completely differ woman,who does not recognise Johnny at all.Getting the door slammed in his face,and no offers of help at all from the locals.Johhny quickly realities that he is the only one who can find out what happened to the "real" Evelyn Smith.View on the film:Complimenting Anne Jeffreys charmingly dizzy,bikini-clad performance of Evelyn Smith,and George Cleveland's wonderful,crusty sea-dog.Lawrence Tierney gives a great performance as ex-marine Johnny Christopher,who Tierney shows to be someone that just cant bring themselves to stay away from a strong whiff of increasing mystery,as others who should be doing their jobs attempt to explain Christopher's suspicions away as the words of a mentally unbalanced ex-marine.For the super-fast pace screenplay,writers Stuart Palmer and George Callahan do a mostly excellent blend of Film Noir with a light comedy touch,which allows director Phil Rosen to do a good mix of terrific,low-lit Film Noir mood pieces and some hilarious lovers on the run comedy moments.With the screenplay and Rosen's directing having set the stage for a moody Noir ending.I was disappointed to discover that instead of ending the film on a possibly melon collie note,Rosen and the writes instead decided that they would just stop their lead characters from falling over the edge,and give the film a "they all lived happily ever after" ending,which feels very much at odds with everything that had happened previously in this entertaining Film Noir.

Step By Step plays like a feature version of an old time serial. Jam-packed with fist fights, auto chases, Nazi spies (still causing trouble in the pre-Cold War year of 1946), comedy, a little romance, and lots more, Step By Step also features an attractive lead couple in Lawrence Tierney and Anne Jeffreys. Director Phil Rosen's bread and butter was short and sweet Poverty Row programmers, and this is one of his best. Great fun on a low, low budget.