Review of The Tip-Off

The Tip-Off (1931)
7/10
Lively and fun
22 January 2016
Radio repairman Eddie Quillan finds himself in the bedroom of flirtatious 'Baby Face' (Ginger Rogers), the girl of quick-tempered middleweight boxer Robert Armstrong. Trying to fend off the charms of Baby Face, Quillan is soon in real trouble as he inadvertently steals away the reluctant fiancée of a real mob boss, one Nick Vitelli. Ironically, this comedy of errors proves completely unnecessary as we learn that Baby Face and her boxing boyfriend really do love one another in their bickering way while, with considerably less amusement, Quillan and his new girl also discover true love.

The Tip-Off is a nice, unpretentious comedy that makes good use of the gangster film that had come into vogue in the early thirties. Eddie Quillen is the star and gives a fine performance as our innocent yet courageous hero. Robert Armstrong also plays his usual lovable lug well. This was Ginger Rogers' first Hollywood movie (she'd already made five in New York) and it's probably the first time we can see her as her recognizable self (also the first time she uses her true voice, having stuck to the 'Betty Boop' vocal style to this point). With a lot of funny lines impeccably delivered, she gave clear indication of the great things to come.
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