''The Red-Haired Alibi'' is an American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...

feature-length film produced by Tower Productions. The film was produced by

Sigmund Neufeld Sigmund Neufeld (May 3, 1896 – March 21, 1979) was an American B movie producer. He spent many years at Poverty Row studio Producers Releasing Corporation where he mainly produced films directed by his brother Sam Newfield. When PRC was taken o ...

. The title is often written as ''Red-Haired Alibi''. Released on October 15, 1932, it was directed by Christy Cabanne. The movie was based on a novel of the same name written by

Wilson Collison Wilson Collison (November 5, 1893 – May 25, 1941) was a writer and playwright. Early years Wilson Collison was the son of John B. Collison, a clerk in the City Engineer's Office, and Mary E. Gardner. Wilson Collison abandoned plans to bec ...

. It is the first feature-length film to feature child actress Shirley Temple in the credits.The Red-Haired Alibi (1932)
. nytimes.com; retrieved April 16, 2014.

Plot

A young woman, Lynn Monith (Merna Kennedy), comes to

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

and is employed by pleasant and charming Trent Travers (Theodore von Eltz) as a companion. She learns over time that Travers is a gangster. After his crimes escalate to murder, police urge her to leave him in order to protect herself. She builds a new life in White Plains and marries Bob Shelton (Grant Withers), a widower with a four-year-old daughter, Gloria (Shirley Temple). However, one night, Lynn drops off Bob at

Grand Central Station Grand Central Terminal (GCT; also referred to as Grand Central Station or simply as Grand Central) is a commuter rail terminal located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Grand Central is the southern terminus ...

in Manhattan, and is spotted by Travers, who threatens to reveal her past unless she gives him a large sum so he can leave the country. The next night, Lynn meets Travers at a restaurant, as they had arranged—but she refuses to pay, fires a gun at him, and flees. Travers is found shot to death soon after. A waiter overheard part of their conversation, and informs the police. The police confront Lynn at her home in White Plains. Lynn confesses and hands over her gun. However, the bullet which killed Travers was fired from a gun of a different caliber! The police realize that Lynn is innocent.

Cast

Merna Kennedy Merna Kennedy (born Maude Kahler; September 7, 1908 – December 20, 1944) was an American actress of the late silent era and the transitional period into talkies. Career She was born in Kankakee, one of two children to Maud (''née'' Reed) a ...

as Lynn Monith *

Theodore von Eltz Theodore von Eltz (November 5, 1893 – October 6, 1964) was an American film actor, appearing in more than 200 films between 1915 and 1957. He was the father of actress Lori March. Von Eltz was a Yale University professor's son. After 12 ...

as Trent Travers *

Grant Withers Granville Gustavus Withers (January 17, 1905 – March 27, 1959) was an American film actor who acted under the screen name Grant Withers. With early beginnings in the silent era, Withers moved into sound films, establishing himself with a lis ...

as Bob Shelton *

Purnell Pratt Purnell Pratt (October 20, 1885 – July 25, 1941) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1914 and 1941. He was born in Bethel, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. Partial filmography * ''The Great ...

as Police Inspector Regan *

Huntley Gordon Huntley Ashworth Gordon (October 8, 1879 – December 7, 1956) was a Canadian actor who began his career in the Silent Film era. Profile Gordon was born in Montreal, Quebec, educated in both Canada and England. He had various jobs including w ...

as Police Captain Kent *

Fred Kelsey Frederick Alvin Kelsey (August 20, 1884 – September 2, 1961) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. Kelsey directed one- and two-reel films for Universal Film Manufacturing Company. He appeared in more than 400 films betw ...

as Detective Corcoran *

Arthur Hoyt Arthur Hoyt (March 19, 1874 – January 4, 1953) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 275 films in his 34-year film career, about a third of them silent films. Career Born in Georgetown, Colorado, in 1874, Hoyt mad ...

as Henri *

Paul Porcasi Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

as Margoli * John Vosburgh as Morgan * Shirley Temple as Gloria Shelton

References

External links

* 1932 films 1930s English-language films 1932 drama films American drama films American black-and-white films 1930s American films {{1930s-drama-film-stub