Romance On The Run

Though its title suggests yet another rip-off of It Happened One Night, Republic's Romance on the Run is more accurately classifed as a crime caper comedy. Private detective Barry Drake (Donald Woods) gives chase when jewel thieves Lily (Grace Bradley) and Cooper (Craig Reynolds) skip town and high-tail it to the sticks. Along the way, Drake begrudgingly accepts the help and advice of dizzy Dale (Patricia Ellis), with whom he falls in love (hence the film's title). Much of the film takes place in hillbilly country, with Drake and Dale running afoul of comic-strip hillbillies. Edward Brophy has a few choice moments as a dyspeptic gangster. Romance on the Run was directed by Gus Meins, a graduate of the "Our Gang" comedies.