Blackmail is a 1939 crime drama film starring Edward G. Robinson

Edward G. Robinson

Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star during Hollywood's Golden Age, he is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo...

. The black-and-white

Black-and-white

Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...

 film was directed by H.C. Potter.

Plot

Edward G. Robinson plays John Ingram, a very successful oil-field firefighter with a young family. All is going so well, he's even bought his own oil well in hope of striking it rich. His greatest fears are realized, however, when a man, William Ramey, from his secret past sees him in a newsreel and shows up looking for a job. Eventually Ramey attempts to blackmail Ingram, who had run from a chain gang years ago and started a new life and family under an assumed name. After a shady deal is made, Ingram is tricked and Ramey turns him into authorities, who then ends up back on a chain gang. Meanwhile, Ramey becomes a very rich man.

When Ingram finds out about the success of the man that betrayed him, he plans a daring escape in an attempt to return home and get revenge on him.

Cast

• Edward G. Robinson
  Edward G. Robinson
  Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star during Hollywood's Golden Age, he is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo...
  
   as John R. Ingram, an alias of John Harrington
• Ruth Hussey
  Ruth Hussey
  Ruth Carol Hussey was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story.-Early life:...
  
   as Helen Ingram
• Gene Lockhart
  Gene Lockhart
  Eugene "Gene" Lockhart was a Canadian character actor, singer, and playwright. He also wrote the lyrics to a number of popular songs.-Early life:...
  
   as William 'Bill' Ramey
• Bobs Watson
  Bobs Watson
  Robert S. "Bobs" Watson was an American actor and a Methodist minister. He died of prostate cancer in 1999 at Laguna Beach, California.-Biography:...
  
   as Hank Ingram
• Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
  Guinn Williams (actor)
  Guinn "Big Boy" Williams was an American actor who appeared in memorable westerns such as Dodge City , Santa Fe Trail , and The Comancheros...
  
  as Moose McCarthy (as Guinn Williams)