Bill Cracks Down

Bill Cracks Down
Bill Cracks Down
	Lobby card
Directed by	William Nigh
Written by	Dorrell McGowan (screenplay); Stuart E. McGowan (screenplay)
Story by	Morgan Cox; Owen Francis
Produced by	William Berke (associate producer)
Starring	Grant Withers; Beatrice Roberts; Ranny Weeks; Judith Allen; William Newell
Cinematography	William Nobles
Edited by	Edward Mann
Production; company	Republic Pictures
Distributed by	Republic Pictures
Release date	March 22, 1937;
Running time	61 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Bill Cracks Down is a 1937 American action romantic drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Grant Withers, Beatrice Roberts, Ranny Weeks and Judith Allen. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. The film was released under the alternative title Men of Steel in the United Kingdom.^[1]

Plot

Bill Reardon runs a steel mill and is the idol of his workers; he'll forego his board meetings to challenge his workers in coal shoveling contests. His heart eventually gives out, but prior to his death he makes his will out with some unusual provisos. His playboy artist son Bill Junior returns from Paris to discover that in order to receive his inheritance he must work in the steel mill for one year with a false name, with the foreman "Tons" Walker being in charge of the mill. "Tons" decides to build Junior's character by changing him from an office file clerk to a hard working coal shoveling steel man. Junior plans his revenge by seducing "Tons"' fiancee.

Tagline

Men of Steel Meet Iron-Willed Women

Cast

Grant Withers as "Tons" Walker
Beatrice Roberts as Susan Bailey
Ranny Weeks as Bill Reardon Jr., aka Bill Hall
Judith Allen as Elaine Witworth
William Newell as Eddie "Porky" Plunkett
Pierre Watkin as William "Bill" Reardon Sr.
Roger Williams as Steve, Mill Foreman
Georgia Caine as Mrs. Witworth
Greta Meyer as Hilda
Edgar Norton as Jarvis, the Butler
Harry Depp as Smalley, the Lawyer
Eugene King as Zimich
Landers Stevens as Dr. Colcord
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson as Chauffeur
Jean Carmen as Girl (uncredited)
Rolfe Sedan as Jewelry Salesman (uncredited)
Tom Steele as Mill Worker at Party (uncredited)

Notes

^ p. 19 Martin, Len D. The Republic Pictures Checklist: Features, Serials, Cartoons, Short Subjects and Training Films of Republic Pictures Corporation, 1935-1959 McFarland; 2nd edition (5 May 2006)

External links

Bill Cracks Down at IMDb
Synopsis at AllMovie
Bill Cracks Down is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

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[1] . 19 Martin, Len D. The Republic Pictures Checklist: Features, Serials, Cartoons, Short Subjects and Training Films of Republic Pictures Corporation, 1935-1959 McFarland; 2nd edition (5 May 2006)

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