mark.waltz No "Thin Man" rip-off this one; It stars the very funny Edmund Lowe as a card shark with a past, about to be blasted his way out of the blue. In the second class of a luxury liner heading from Europe to New York, Lowe and girlfriend Claire Trevor sneak into first class to try to swindle the rich and idle out of some of their pesky cash. Along the way, they encounter the troubled Tom Brown, blackmailed by a sophisticated kleptomaniac (Adrienne Ames) into smuggling some jewels she stole onto shore. Mingling with Ames and Brown brings Lowe and Trevor to the realization that Brown is Lowe's son from a short-lived marriage. Lowe must rescue the son he never got to know without revealing his identity, and the result is a very funny film with an outstanding script.Acting wise, it is Ames who scores here, a much married golddigger who steals simply out of excitement. Eugene Pallette gets some funny moments as the gregarious prankster, with Jed Prouty as another one of the card playing passengers and Herbert Mundin as a constantly drunk passenger whom Lowe keeps encountering with some smooth and funny double talk. Both big hearted and completely charming, this is the epitome of a "sleeper", a forgotten film so good that you find yourself drawn in immediately. It's sophisticated screwball comedy at its best, a film that may have slipped through the cracks in 1935, but one that could certainly be praised by film historians upon rediscovery.

GManfred "Black Sheep" is unheralded, underrated, far-fetched and great fun. Loved every minute of the snappy dialogue and the fast-paced plot. I wished they had made a series of these as it was very entertaining - it's what makes people sing "That's Entertainment" when watching a terrific movie (They do, don't they?) Good chemistry between Lowe and Trevor, who shows a flair for comedy I didn't know she had. Lowe is suave and debonair - he played too many roles requiring a dour and serious demeanor and here he gets a chance to smile and unwind in this breezy comedy. It is dated and takes place aboard a transatlantic ocean liner with the accompanying obsolete manners and customs, but if you are a fan of the best movies of Hollywood's so-called Golden Age, this one's for you.

stoneyburke I love this movie. I have a copy and I watch it frequently and I'm never bored. The theme song that streams practically through the entire movie is a catchy little number and just enhances the '30's stuff.By now all the reviewers have let you in on the plot. I must concur that parts of the plot are too convenient...like in this whole wide world a pro cruise ship gambler meets his physical past on a cruise ship but so what. There's Claire Trevor who was so cool. No Clark Gable but a fetching Edmund Lowe. Adrienne Ames being so appealing spending time with a very young man. I see how a young impressionable young man would be attracted to her and better yet be her dupe.Trevor and Lowe meet, it's a fun interlude...they get wise to Palette,etc...Lowe meets his past and saves the same's fate. The whole movie is not long on running time, easy to watch, fun on listening and one can see that some talent and a fun script can make a small movie set have you on a wonderful cruise.

Cutter-2 This is an excellent little film with two stars much better known for their supporting roles. A young Claire Trevor is more lovely than I have ever seen her. This may be one of her few `straight' roles. She is not the scheming woman in a film noir, a prostitute, saloon girl or a drunk. Edmund Lowe, a first line star during the silent era who never quite made it past supporting roles in the talkies, is a very believable gambler/con man. Virtually the entire movie takes place on board a cruise ship so there are none of the car chases, gun fights, mid depression hard luck stories, etc. that tend to carry many mid '30s mysteries/dramas. The script contains a good deal of intrigue and suspense that is carried of well by Lowe and his `accomplice', Trevor. Adrienne Ames, who looks very much like Gail Patrick plays a character that was made for Patrick, the snooty, unlikable wealthy woman. Ames and Eugene Pallette support.The Plot Outline for this movie accurately describes what occurs so there is no need to dwell there. The most enjoyable parts of the movie for me were the situations where Trevor is determining what kind of person Lowe is and whether or not he can be trusted, is honest, etc. Keep in mind Trevor and Lowe meet on the cruise ship. Lowe tells Trevor up front that he is a gambler and Trevor is not quite sure what to think as Lowe goes about `setting up' Pallette and Ames primarily through card games to get his son out of a jam and return the stolen jewels. This occurs in spite of the ship's detective and eventually everyone else involved knowing Lowe is a gambler.The ending may be a bit too neat in today's terms but one must remember happy endings were important in the early and mid '30s.