Born in 1906, Lola Lane emerged as a notable actress in the 1930s and 1940s, often portraying strong female characters. In They Made Me a Killer (1946), she delivers a compelling performance that aligns with her tough girl persona established during her time at Warner Bros. Despite her desire to break free from typecasting, Lane's roles in gritty dramas like this one cemented her place in the landscape of exploitation cinema. Her contributions continue to resonate within the cult film community.
They Made Me a Killer
After his brother is killed in an accident, Tom Durling quits his job and drives across country. He gives an attractive girl a ride and is subsequently forced at gun point to be the driver in a bank robbery. During the crime another innocent man, Steve Reynolds, is involved and killed in the escape. After a high-speed chase, the car crashes and Durling is knocked unconscious. The bandits get away, the police arrest Durling and refuse to believe that he isn't one of the robbers. Durling escapes the police then later teams with Reynolds' sister in an attempt to prove his innocence. The trail leads to a small roadside diner where the two end up finding the gang hiding out in the building's basement. They go undercover, she as a waitress and Durling joining the gang. In the end, they trick the criminals into confessing their crimes. Durling's reputation is saved, and the criminals, led by a Ma Barker-type mom, get shot up.
