Alibi Racket (1935)

• 59%
• 1935
• Crime
• Drama
• George B. Seitz
• Edward Norris
• Al Bridge
• Granville Bates

The MGM crime reporter introduces August Wilmer, the Chief Inspector of Police in his town, who talks about how debunking alibis can help solve cases. In one such case, well-known racketeer Mike Lichter is murdered, the police believe by Joe Rinelli, Lichter's second-in-command who rumors have it that Lichter was pushing out and, upon Lichter's death, is the heir apparent to lead Lichter's racketeering organization. But Rinelli has what seems to be an airtight and almost too publicly announced alibi for his whereabouts at the time of the murder. He was at the movie theater where the ticket seller, the usher, and the theater manager can all vouch for him being there the evening in question. His exact whereabouts are unaccounted for for about ten or fifteen minutes, during which time there is no way he could have made it to the crime scene and back. The lead investigator, Inspector Charles Mackaye, is almost certain that Rinelli committed the murder despite the alibi. Rinelli also seemed to have alibis for all cases in which he was seemingly involved. Needing to tread lightly, Mackaye plays on a hunch which involves Rinelli's family, some of whom are staunch supporters of his and some who want nothing to do with him, which is what Mackaye suspected would be the case and is the basis of his hunch.