Finger Prints: A snappy, dust-covered little crime caper

Is it worth the hour?

If you have a soft spot for grainy, early-30s crime pictures where everyone speaks like they’re reading a telegram, sure. It’s snappy. If you need color, nuance, or a plot that isn't basically a straight line, skip it. This isn't exactly high art, but it’s got a certain rhythm to it.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a basement, but in a good way. The lighting is harsh and the shadows are basically just black paint. There’s this one scene where a door opens and it sounds like a literal gunshot, which probably wasn't the intention, but it kept me awake.

William L. Thorne does that thing where he looks like he’s trying to solve a puzzle that’s missing half the pieces. It’s charming, I guess. He doesn't have the gravity of a lead, but he’s perfectly fine for what the script demands.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Finger Prints (1931) through its definitive frames.

Bits and pieces

• The dialogue is about 90% exposition. Nobody actually talks to each other; they just report facts.
• I swear the same two extras walk past the camera in the background at least four different times.
• The smuggling plot is so thin you could read a newspaper through it.

It’s not as polished as something like The Black Book, but it’s got less pretense, too. Sometimes I prefer a movie that just wants to tell you who the bad guy is and get the credits rolling before I finish my coffee.

There is a moment near the middle where the tension just evaporates because someone starts explaining the smuggling route on a map. I think I checked my watch twice during that monologue. It drags, then it snaps back to life, then it ends so abruptly I thought my internet connection dropped.

Honestly? It’s a relic. It’s dusty and it creaks. But it doesn't try to be anything other than a workday movie for a 1931 audience. I respect that.

Next time I want a fix of this era, I might revisit Not Guilty instead, just to see if the pacing feels any less frantic. But for a rainy afternoon, Finger Prints fits the bill. Just don't expect to remember the villain's name by tomorrow morning. 🕵️‍♂️