THE LAST ALARM (1940) J. Farrell MacDonald, Warren Hull, Polly Ann Young | Action, Crime | COLORIZED

The Last Alarm is a 1940 American crime film directed by William Beaudine and starring veteran character actor J. Farrell MacDonald.

SYNOSIS
Captain Jim Hadley, a fire chief with 40 years of service, has just celebrated his retirement dinner. The next day, feeling the weight of idle time, he engages in a mundane conversation with a brush salesman who has a distinct Elmer Fudd-like voice. Seeking purpose, Jim visits his old fire station, Fire Company No.7, where he catches up with his former colleagues who soon rush out to a fire.

At the Great Eastern Insurance Company, Frank Rogers, who is interested in Jim’s daughter Jane, is troubled by a recent spate of fires suspected to be arson. This suspicion is shared at the Arson Bureau, where Lieutenant King, under pressure from the mayor, demands results from investigators Henderson and Roberts. They deduce the fires are the work of an arsonist using time bombs and gasoline. The arsonist is revealed to be the owner of an antiques shop, which Joan, Jim's daughter, happens to visit.

Jim plans his future with his friend Burt Stafford, who is also nearing retirement. However, Burt is severely injured in a fire and dies in the hospital with Jim by his side. Meanwhile, the antique dealer visits the Hadley home to deliver a repaired salt and pepper set Joan had purchased. Joan notices a disturbing gleam in his eyes when she lights a match.

Jim joins the arson investigation, leveraging his experience from the fire brigade. Spectroscopic analysis of wood from a recent fire reveals that a burnt time bomb box Jim found was made of maple wood. Jim, Henderson, and Roberts scour the city for the source of the boxes.

During another significant fire, Jim finds a statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, dropped by the arsonist. The arsonist later retrieves the statue from Jim's unlocked car. Joan and Frank recall seeing the statue in the antique shop window, leading to a search warrant. Though no bomb-making equipment is found, wood shavings matching the time bomb box wood are discovered.

Jim and Frank pursue the arsonist, who has evaded surveillance, to the Hadley house. The arsonist plants a time bomb in the basement and confronts Mrs. Hadley and Joan. Jim and Frank, realizing the arsonist may be at the house, rush home. As the bomb detonates and the basement catches fire, the arsonist confronts the women, declaring that Jim should not have interfered. Jim and Frank break in; while Frank rescues the women, Jim confronts the arsonist. In a delusional state, the arsonist claims to be the god of fire, then falls into the burning basement and dies.

Later, a new dinner is held in Jim’s honor as he accepts a position as the honorary fire chief of the city.

The film features real footage of large fires, fire stations, and firefighters in action, shot in Los Angeles at Fire Station 27 in Hollywood, though the city remains unnamed in the movie.

CAST & CREW
J. Farrell MacDonald as Jim Hadley
Warren Hull as Frank Rogers
Polly Ann Young as Joan Hadley
Mary Gordon as Mrs. O'Connor
George Pembroke as Henry Tracy
Herbert Rawlinson as Chief Investigator
William Gould as Fire Commissioner
Byron Foulger as Willie O'Connor
Eddy Waller as Joe - Fireman
Bob Terry as Fireman
John Dilson as Mr. O'Connor

Director: William West
Screenplay: Al Martin
Story: Clarence Greene
Producer: Sigmund Neufeld
Cinematography: Jack Greenhalgh
Editor: Holbrook N. Todd
Music: Leo Erdody
Production Company: Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC)
Distributor: Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC)
Release Date: July 25, 1940
Country of Origin: United States
Running Time: 61 minutes