Wheeler Oakman, active in the 1930s and 1940s, carved a niche in the world of cult cinema with his roles in Slaves in Bondage (1937) and Escort Girl (1941). Known for his versatility, Oakman's performances often captured the gritty essence of the era's exploitation films. In Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938), he contributed to the sci-fi genre's unique blend of adventure and camp, solidifying his status as a memorable figure in the annals of grindhouse cinema.
Escort Girl
Betty Compson had a bit of an habit of starring in films with a slightly sleazier storyline - and this one is probably one of her worst. She and manipulative cohort Wheeler Oakman ("Gregory") run a nightclub that serves as a front for an extremely lucrative escort agency. They pay for protection, and she sends daughter "June" (Margaret Marquis) abroad as often as she can to keep her out of harm's way, so their lives are relatively straightforward... Until, that is, the daughter returns home, unexpectedly, with beau "Drake" (Robert Kellard) and simultaneously the new DA decides a clampdown is in order and so sends an undercover agent to discover the identity of the ringleader of the illicit dating company. It's all a bit messy, to be honest - none of the characters really catch fire, the story is weakly predictable, there is a great deal of dialogue and the final few scenes feature Compson at her most hammy. Keep an eye out for a scene stealing effort from serial drunk Arthur Houseman, but otherwise nothing to write home about.
