Buyer Beware (1940)

In the world of illicit trade and questionable ethics, we find ourselves introduced to Police Inspector William C. Thomas by the renowned MGM crime reporter. He casts a spotlight on the dark underbelly of commerce, where merchants trade in stolen goods, a practice that not only fuels criminal activities but also threatens consumer safety due to the absence of quality control. At the center of this web is Merchandise Distributors, a company thriving on stolen goods, and their unsuspecting clients, Carter & Collins Druggists. Les Carter, one half of the struggling drugstore duo, persuades his partner, George Collins, to gamble with Merchandise Distributors' alluringly cheap prices, aiming to navigate their financial turmoil. Carter is fully aware of the tainted nature of the goods, while Collins harbors suspicions, but the siren call of easy profits and the desire to provide for his family push Collins to dance with danger. Their risky liaison with Merchandise Distributors spirals out of control as Collins grapples with his conscience and reconsiders their deal, especially when the stolen goods they peddle turn out to be the drugs themselves, possibly sourced from dubious places. The clock starts ticking as the police, already on the trail of the thefts, race against time to prevent a potential deluge of questionable drugs from flooding the market. "Buyer Beware" (1940) is an enthralling journey into the shadowy world of stolen goods and the ethical dilemmas they raise, where the line between survival and crime blurs under the weight of desperation.

Buyer Beware is a crime movie featuring Charles Arnt.

Buyer Beware is currently streaming on History Vault.