Tell No Tales (1939)

In the heart of a bustling city, Michael Cassidy, the managing editor of an underdog newspaper, grapples with the imminent threat of closure. The paper's new owner, the shrewd and relentless Matthew Cooper, who already owns a rival newspaper, bought Cassidy's publication merely to extinguish the competition. Amidst this precarious business turmoil, the city is gripped by a high-profile kidnapping case that sends tremors down its concrete veins. Seizing the chance to save his paper from its impending doom, Cassidy embarks on a daring mission to trace the origins of a hundred-dollar bill - a fragment of the kidnappers' ransom - that he stumbles upon in a local saloon. Each step of his journey unfolds like a riveting drama, leading him through the city's underbelly and its intriguing denizens. Cassidy's quest is buoyed by the unexpected aid of Ellen Frazier, a schoolteacher and the sole eyewitness to the crime. Together, they navigate a labyrinth of engrossing mini-stories: from the mournful wake of a once-celebrated prizefighter, to the pulse-quickening revelations in a gambling house where loyalty is tested, to the unraveling of a deceitful marriage. As Cassidy inches closer to the truth, each narrative thread weaves into an elaborate tapestry, circling back to the elusive kidnappers. The fate of his newspaper hangs in the balance as he delves deeper into this captivating saga. Will he succeed in his relentless pursuit, or will the gritty city swallow his ambitions whole? "Tell No Tales" paints a gripping tale of determination, intrigue, and the pursuit of truth in an unforgiving urban landscape.

Tell No Tales is a crime movie featuring Melvyn Douglas.

Tell No Tales is currently streaming on TCM.