The ace production values suggest there should be longer runtime than 70- minutes. But it's MGM, The Tiffany of Studios, so whatever their Andy Hardy proclivities, nothing's done on the cheap. The first half had me wondering why Tone had top billing since he hardly puts in an appearance. Instead, it's third-billed Irwin who gets the screen time. He's all fast- talking, high-energy crime reporter eager to get the goods on a heartless numbers racket. But the kingpins are too tough and slimy to crack. So, uptown lawyer Tone is assigned to get the goods on them, that is, if he can sober up long enough. Thus, Tone gets the movie's second half. Meanwhile, second-billed Evans bridges the halves and wins audience sympathy with a nicely modulated turn as an aggrieved daughter. The movie's high point is likely the burning ocean liner, some of whose footage appears real life. (Thanks reviewer bkoganbing for the Morro Castle info.) Meanwhile, the medium shots on board the burning vessel are worthy of an A-production. I guess my only gripe is that we don't see more of one of the era's most intimidating actors, Robert Barrat. Here he's a kingpin but would have been better as an enforcer.All in all, nothing special here, just a good solid slice of thick-ear, with MGM pulling a Warner Bros. to good effect.

MGM manages to pack good production values and fine acting into "Exclusive Story" from 1936, starring Stu Erwin, Madge Evans, Franchot Tone, and Virginia Bruce.This is more a Warner Brothers gangster story, with Robert Barrat as Werther, a mob boss and Joseph Calleia as Ace, his enforcer. Werther is running a numbers racket, this time a lottery scam. When her father is threatened for not selling enough, Ann Devlin (Evans) appeals to a reporter (Stu Erwin) to go after these guys. He wants to enlist a society attorney (Tone), who demurs but finally agrees to join the fight.The climax takes place on an ocean liner coming from Havana to New York that is on fire. To cut to the chase reporter Stu Erwin gets his story, but also the counsel for the newspaper, Franchot Tone, gets appointed a Tom Dewey like special prosecutor. And together they start to move on Barrat and the rest. And to top it all off Tone and MacDonald's daughter Virginia Bruce get a nice little romance going.Erwin was always good with the wisecracks and fast talk, and Tone is smooth and elegant. The film moves quickly.A solid film.

During the 1930s, MGM gave even its "B" movies a touch of class and "Exclusive Story" is typical. Stu Erwin co-stars as a crusading newspaperman attempting to expose the racketeers behind a lottery scam, masterminded by Robert Barratt. He'd like society lawyer Franchot Tone to join him, serving as a special prosecutor. But Tone is having too much fun catering to his upscale clients. Then a mysterious fire aboard a ship bound out of Havana hits Tone personally -- and the mob has met its match. Over at RKO or Universal, this would have been a decent second feature. Here, while it's still a "B," it has style, sumptuous sets and first-rate performances.

I'd like to revise my opinion of George B. Seitz. The same year that he brilliantly directed "Shadow of Doubt", he also made "Exclusive Story" which is almost equally entertaining. Once again, he had the services of a superb cast, this time headed by Franchot Tone, Stuart Erwin, Madge Evans, Joseph Calleia and Robert Barrat. This flick was produced on an extremely lavish budget by Lucien Hubbard who would deliberately write scenes that would expand that budget during production – such as the marvelous ship-on-fire footage. When supervisors complained about Hubbard's spendthrift ways to Louis B. Mayer, the studio chief almost always supported Hubbard – especially in this case in which he agreed that the spectacular footage written and supervised by Hubbard and masterfully directed by Seitz, had lifted a routine "B" offering into the "A" class. The movie was therefore released with a bit of fanfare and several critics even suggested that Calleia be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award. But that of course didn't happen. Available on an excellent Warner Archive DVD.