The Fighting Coward: A Quick Trip Back to 1935

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you're the type who likes spending Saturday afternoons digging through the bargain bin of cinema history. If you love The Policeman and the Baby for its earnest, low-budget charm, you might find something here. If you need tight pacing or a script that isn't held together by duct tape, stay far away. It’s a movie that moves at the speed of a tired horse, then suddenly decides it’s a sprint for no reason.

Ray Walker plays the hero with this weird, permanent look of mild confusion on his face. He’s supposed to be a top-tier detective, but he spends half the movie getting outsmarted by his own family. It’s hard to root for him when he’s resigning his badge every fifteen minutes.

The Dad Dilemma

William Farnum is the only reason to really pay attention. He plays the father, and he has this gravelly, tired energy that makes the rest of the cast look like they’re acting in a high school play. When he’s on screen, the movie feels almost grounded. Then the camera cuts back to the bad guys, and we’re back to cartoonish villainy.

Speaking of the villains, Mathew Betz plays Krane with such aggressive eyebrow acting it’s almost impressive. He’s running a counterfeit ring, but honestly, I couldn't tell you how they actually make the fake money. The movie is way more interested in people standing in doorways looking suspicious than the actual crime itself.

• That one scene in the alleyway goes on for about three minutes too long.
• The lighting in the police station makes everyone look like they’re covered in soot.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same extra walking past the window three different times in one sequence.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Grinning Guns, except without the western flair to make it fun. It’s just… dry. There’s a moment where the plot hinges on a piece of evidence that feels like it was written on a napkin five minutes before shooting.

You can tell the budget was basically a sandwich and a handshake. The way the sound cuts out during the transition scenes is jarring. It’s almost charming, if you’re into that sort of thing. But if you’re looking for a taut thriller, you’re in the wrong decade.

At the end of the day, it’s a quick watch. You won’t remember the plot by tomorrow, but you might remember the way William Farnum growls at people. And sometimes, that's just enough for a movie like this. 🎞️