At Sing Sing Prison, two convicts have served their time and are being released. There's Cliff Taylor (George Raft), a man who has been successfully rehabilitated and who has every intention of going straight from here on out. With faith in Taylor's ability to readjust to life in the outside world, the prison warden proudly bids him farewell.
Chuck Martin (Humphrey Bogart), on the other hand, is a repeat offender with zero intention of living a law-abiding life. The warden knows Martin's time in prison has done nothing to change him; in fact, he would hold him longer if he could.
As the two men travel home on the train together, Martin finds Cliff Taylor's determination to go straight quite laughable. With the "invisible stripes" of his prison record, Chuck insists, Cliff won't be given a chance and, therefore, will end up resorting to crime once more. Sure that won't be the case, Cliff heads for home...hopes high.
The years in prison having given him an appreciation for freedom and for home, Cliff sees through new eyes the tiny apartment he shares with his mother (Flora Robson) and younger brother, Tim (William Holden). What he formerly thought a dump now is beautiful to him.
To celebrate Cliff's homecoming, Mrs. Taylor has arranged a dinner party, with Cliff's girlfriend, Sue, in attendance. It doesn't take Cliff long to discover that Sue doesn't want anything to do with an ex-con.
Unfortunately, Sue isn't the only one not interested in an ex-con. Because of his prison record, Cliff is unable to get a break in the working world---no one trusts him, and no one wants to hire him. When he finally does get a job, he is fingered as the "inside man" and arrested after the store is burglarized.
Brother Tim is in love with Peggy (Jane Bryan), and the two of them want to get married; however, due to insufficient funds they have been unable to set a date. Anxious to be able to support a wife, Tim tells Cliff he has thought about crime. Of course, Cliff is angered by Tim's talk and is determined to keep his brother from walking the criminal path he did. Not convinced that honesty is the best policy, Tim informs Cliff that he has to see it in order to believe it.
Desperate to make money and prove to Tim that going straight is the only way, yet unable to get a break for himself, Cliff calls on his old relationship with Chuck Martin.
Though he has, in fact, gotten involved with Martin's gang and is part of a bank robbery, Cliff deceives his family into believing he has gotten an out of town sales job. With the money Cliff sends home, Tim and Peggy are able to get married and Tim is able to purchase the garage he's been wanting.
Does Cliff's family discover he has reverted to crime in order to keep Tim from following in his shoes? Does Tim stay on the straight and narrow? Is Cliff able to break away from Martin's gang and live the honest life he really desires to live? These are the questions which play out in the remainder of the film.
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Invisible Stripes is a terrific film, with a great message about giving people a chance. Although I watched this for my William Holden birthday month celebration, the film is, in fact, George Raft's. He is wonderful here---humble, contrite, determined, responsible. His character is extremely likeable and one I couldn't help rooting for. He was a man who was devoted to his family, especially his momma, and I found his scenes with Flora Robson beautiful and touching. In fact, I even got misty-eyed a couple times---not often that happens in a gangster film.
Adding to the great character traits was the sight of Mr. Raft in a suit!
Even in just a white shirt and tie, he was incredibly handsome.
William Holden---only 21 here---has not yet reached that maturity which would make him heartthrob material. Oh, he's cute here, but in another ten years, he would be gorgeous!!
This film is out on DVD, so it ought to be fairly easy to track down. Also, it is on the TCM schedule for Tuesday, April 17th at 6:00 a.m. (EDT). George Raft fans will surely love this...as will William Holden fans.
Happy viewing!!
