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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 024

Half a Sinner

194059 minUnited States
ComedyCrime
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Synopsis

A reserved schoolteacher decides to spend one day living more boldly. Escaping an unwelcome stranger, she takes a car without knowing that a body is hidden inside. A stranded motorist joins her, and a private adventure suddenly attracts criminals and police. Romance develops in the gaps between misunderstandings that keep making her situation worse.

Cast

DirectorsAl Christie

Inspirations

The source was Dalton Trumbo's short story Lady Takes a Chance, an early screen credit in his career. Its sudden reversal of a respectable woman's fortunes provides the material for the film's mixture of pursuit, crime and comic misunderstanding.

Reference: Wikipedia

Behind the scenes

The film began production in 1939 for distribution through Grand National. That company's collapse left the completed picture looking for a new outlet, and Universal ultimately released it. The delay illustrates the precarious business environment surrounding small independent productions.

Reference: Wikipedia

Sources and availability

The synopsis and editorial text were written for this collection. The references below were cross-checked to identify the film and its copy; each editorial section identifies its reference.

WikipediaInternet Archive

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

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Availability checked on September 10, 2026.

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