Summary
Set against the sun‑drenched opulence of a Palm Beach resort, George Welston, a restless scion on holiday with his patriarch Edward, becomes irrevocably drawn to Eve Pendleton, the luminous daughter of Edward's mercantile nemesis, Judson. When a lucrative transaction looms—Pendleton seeking an option while Edward stakes a $100,000 deposit—George impulsively commandeers his father's automobile, racing to thwart Pendleton's maneuver and inadvertently tipping the scales toward Eve's polished suitor, the seemingly genteel Arthur Trask. Trask's polished veneer conceals a predatory scheme to pilfer the fortunes of Eve and her affluent circle. A nocturnal intrusion at Eve's window triggers George's pursuit, culminating in his brief detention by a weary detective who, swayed by Eve's imploring, releases him. Trask's subsequent abduction, gagging, and robbery of society belle Marian Trevor spirals into a conflagration sparked by a discarded cigarette; George's heroic rescue of Marian is met with baseless accusations of theft, arson, and kidnapping. Edward, desperate to salvage his son's reputation and secure the pending deal, furnishes another $100,000 bail. The climax erupts as George confronts Trask, who has absconded with the $600,000 Pendleton contributed to the same venture. After a brutal struggle, George subdues Trask and races against the clock to present the recovered funds in court before the bail is forfeited. The narrative resolves with the consolidation of Edward and Pendleton's business interests and the matrimonial union of George and Eve.
Synopsis
While vacationing with his father Edward at a Palm Beach hotel, George Welston becomes smitten with Eve Pendleton, the daughter of Edward's business rival Judson. After George prevents Pendleton from getting an option on a deal by racing in his car with his father's $100,000 deposit, Pendleton favors Eve's other suitor, Arthur Trask, whose gentlemanly manner conceals his intent to rob Eve and her wealthy friends. When George sees Trask climb into Eve's window, he follows and is apprehended by a detective, who reluctantly releases George in response to Eve's pleas. Later, Trask binds, gags and robs society belle Marian Trevor. After Trask's dropped cigarette starts a fire, George rescues Marian, who upon reviving, accuses him of theft, arson and abduction. George's father puts up $100,000 needed for an important deal for George's bail, then George chases Trask, who has stolen the $600,000 which Pendleton put up for the same deal. After a fight, George apprehends Trask and races to court before the bail money is forfeited. Pendleton and Welston become partners, while George and Eve marry.
Review Excerpt
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The opening tableau of Help! Help! Police! immerses the viewer in the glittering micro‑cosm of Palm Beach’s elite, where gilded façades mask simmering rivalries. Alan Edwards’ George Welston arrives with a swagger that belies his youth, his eyes immediately fixed on Evelyn Brent’s Eve Pendleton, whose poise radiates both privilege and vulnerability. The film’s mise‑en‑scene, reple..."
