BILL CRACKS DOWN (1937) Grant Withers, Beatrice Roberts & Ranny Weeks | Action, Drama, Romance | B&W

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.

SYNOPSIS
When William Reardon, a steel magnate, dies and leaves a strange will. When his spineless and dandified heir and son returns home from living in Paris, he finds "Tons' Walker, a strong and burly steel worker running the company, per his late-father's will request. He also finds that his father's will specifies the Junior will change his name to Bill Hall and work in the family steel mill for a year under the fake name. Walker's job is to make a man out of the son. The son is not overjoyed by this prospect. Neither is Walker.

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.

CAST & CREW
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

Directed by William Nigh
Written by Dorrell McGowan (screenplay), Stuart E. McGowan (screenplay)
Story by Morgan Cox, Owen Francis
Produced by William Berke
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