Badge of Honor

Badge of Honor is a 1934 American drama film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and starring Buster Crabbe, Ruth Hall and Betty Blythe. It was produced on Poverty Row as a second feature for distribution by Mayfair Pictures. Crabbe was loaned out from Paramount Pictures for the production. The film’s sets were designed by the art director Paul Palmentola.

Cast

Buster Crabbe as Bob Gordon
Ruth Hall as Helen Brewster
Ralph Lewis as Randall Brewster
Betty Blythe as Mrs. Claire van Alstyne
John Trent as Harvey Larkin, City Editor
Ernie Adams as ‘Tip’ Crane
Allan Cavan as Preston, the Lawyer
Charles McAvoy as ‘Trim’ Fuller
Broderick O’Farrell as Howard Kent
William Arnold as Andrew Comstock

In real life, Ruth was married to cameraman, Lee Garmes, from 1933 until his death in 1978. She herself died in 2003, but, although she lived in Glendale, I bet nobody bothered to interview her! Another opportunity lost! Anyway, it was good to see her in this fast-moving, newspaper yarn in which Crabbe plays a rookie reporter opposite publisher Ralph Lewis, villainous John Trent, and society lady, Betty Blythe.

That whet your appetite? Yes, Indeed. But it’s actually diminutive Ernie Adams who makes the most impression in this film’s A-1 support cast!