For the Common Defense!

Jun 20, 1942

0h 22m

★ 4.7

Another Crime Does Not Pay Subject

Overview

This Crime Does Not Pay short shows how cooperation among all the nations of the Americas helps the war effort. In this case, a US government agent travels to Chile and Colombia. He works with local authorities to try to thwart an Axis plan to ship stolen ammunition.

Genres

Drama

Crime

Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

For the Common Defense! Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Subprefect Santiago Castillo

John Litel

Dutch Mullner

Douglas Fowley

Lt. Guytan

Stephen McNally

Agent Pritchard

Van Johnson

Adolph (uncredited)

Egon Brecher

Buckley's girlfriend (uncredited)

Jacqueline Dalya

MGM Crime Reporter (uncredited)

Mark Daniels

Heinrich Ort (uncredited)

Steven Geray

Officer (uncredited)

José Portugal

Episode 24 of the Crime Does Not Pay series. Margie Smith (Laraine Day) works as a waitress at a drive in restaurant. She likes to date and look nice but on her salary, she can't keep up with everyone else. However, a friend shows her that stealing is easy, cool and lets you dress like success. At first, it works out just fine, but remember--this is a Crime Does Not Pay film and you KNOW she'll soon get caught and prosecuted.

7.0

Pound Foolish

Jan 27, 1940

An expose of attempts by wealthy people to avoid payment of customs duties. Part of the MGM "Crime Does Not Pay" series.

6.0

Patrolling the Ether

Apr 10, 1944

1940. Sixteen year old Phillip is one of a number of amateur radio operators across the US, doing it purely as a fun hobby. He is informed by Bill Beck of the Radio and Intelligence Division (RID) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that amateur international radio communication is now banned due to spying a result of the war in Europe. Beck, on behalf of the RID, asks Phillip, however, to continue to monitor the airwaves for suspicious activity.

5.0

Easy Life

May 20, 1944

In this entry in the MGM "Crime Does Not Pay" series young Frank Davis, dropping out of school and joining a small-time hoodlum gang, finds out that leading a life of crime is not all he thought it would be.

5.5

The Last Installment

May 5, 1945

In this MGM Crime Does Not Pay series short, a criminal idolizes the life of a famous gangster - unaware that his hero met a tragic end.

7.2

Sergeant York

Sep 27, 1941

Alvin York a hillbilly sharpshooter transforms himself from ruffian to religious pacifist. He is then called to serve his country and despite deep religious and moral objections to fighting becomes one of the most celebrated American heroes of WWI.

6.0

Soak the Old

Aug 24, 1940

Part of MGM's "Crime Does Not Pay" series, this short film focuses on crimes revolving around pension scams.

6.7

Katyn

Sep 21, 2007

On September 1st, 1939, Nazi Germany invades Poland, unleashing World War II. On September 17th, the Soviet Red Army crosses the border. The Polish army, unable to fight on two fronts, is defeated. Thousands of Polish men, both military and government officials, are captured by the invaders. Their fate will only be known several years later.

5.7

Napoleon Gas

Dec 15, 1925

A squadron of American warplanes, armed with gas developed by Corsican chemist Gannimer (dubbed "Napoleon Gas") flies to Leningrad. American workers inform soviet comrades about the impending catastrophe. But the air attack on the city has already begun, and the assault troops of the enemy capture one suburb of the city after the other. The Red Army is organizing the defense and reflects the attack of the enemy with gas-armed drones

6.0

Buyer Beware

Aug 17, 1940

This entry in MGM's "Crime Does Not Pay" series deals with shady companies selling fake merchandise.

6.3

Sucker List

Jul 26, 1941

In this MGM Crime Does Not Pay series short, a man and his racketeer buddies devise a scheme to bilk those already seemingly desperate for money of what little they have.

7.3

Night Train to Munich

Aug 31, 1940

Czechoslovakia, March 1939, on the eve of World War II. As the German invaders occupy Prague, inventor Axel Bomasch manages to flee and reach England; but those who need to put his knowledge at the service of the Nazi war machine, in order to carry out their evil plans of destruction, will stop at nothing to capture him.

6.9

Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi

Jan 15, 1943

A propaganda film during World War II about a boy who grows up to become a Nazi soldier.

6.0

Red Nightmare

Feb 11, 1962

A man takes his American freedoms for granted, until he wakes up one morning to find out that the United States Government has been replaced with a Communist system. The basis for this short film, narrated by Jack Webb, is the alleged Soviet re-creation of US communities for the purpose of training infiltrators, spies, and moles.

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0.0

From the Four Corners

Jul 31, 1941

Members of three Commonwealth armies, an Aussie, a Canadian, and a New Zealander meet actor Leslie Howard who buys them a beer and makes them understand why they're fighting.

6.4

The Iron Lady

Dec 26, 2011

A look at the life of Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with a focus on the price she paid for power.

6.2

My Life for Ireland

Jan 2, 1941

A Nazi propaganda movie from 1941 directed by Max W. Kimmich, covering a story of Irish heroism and martyrdom over two generations under the occupation of the British.

6.6

Their Finest

Feb 19, 2017

During the Blitz of World War II, a female screenwriter works on a film celebrating England's resilience as a way to buoy a weary populace's spirits. Her efforts to dramatise the true story of two sisters who undertook their own maritime mission to rescue wounded soldiers are met with mixed feelings by a dismissive all-male staff.

6.0

Seeing Hands

Jul 3, 1943

This serious Pete Smith Specialty series entry encourages industry to hire people with disabilities to help with the war effort. As a boy, Ben Helwig was blinded in an accident while playing baseball. He eventually acquired a guide dog and now works in a defense plant.