Although popular with his readers, New York newspaper columnist William “Bill” Poster, the “Keyhole to the City,” aggravates both his publisher and his girl friend, Broadway musical performer Peggy Bannon, with his unconcerned, selfish ways. When Peggy, who has been feeding Bill gossip tidbits for five years, informs Bill about the unexpected departure of socialite Mildred Huntington for Europe, Bill rushes to the dock and, posing as a steward, inflitrates Mildred’s boat cabin. After applying his charm on Mildred, who has just broken her socially acceptable engagement, Bill convinces her to take a tour of America with him instead of going to Europe. Bill then receives a tip from one of his informants that Italian mobster Angelo Spinetti will be confronting bartender Tony Mugatti in Tony’s speakeasy that night. Determined to scoop the story, Bill uses Peggy to trick his rival, the scrupulous Ed Maloney, into leaving the speakeasy and then sees Tony kill Angelo. Although Tony warns Bill to keep quiet, Bill immediately calls in the front page story. Later, Bill receives a letter from Mildred reminding him of their tour, and he abandons Peggy to escort the socialite on an exotic tour of the city. After a night on Mildred’s yacht, Bill gives her Peggy’s engagement ring and announces his engagement to Mildred in his column. During his next radio news broadcast, Bill reads a threatening letter from Tony and calmly predicts that the Italian will be caught and punished. As he speaks, Peggy comes by and, after reading Bill’s column, sees her ring on Mildred. Furious at Bill’s betrayal, Peggy tells him that she is going to reveal the truth behind their love affair to Ed, while Mildred, who is angry at Bill for gossiping about her friends, breaks their engagement. Desperate, Bill begs Ed not to print Peggy’s story, but when Ed refuses to comply, he decides to deflate Ed’s column by “confessing” his shortcomings in his own column. Impressed by Bill’s nerve, Ed gets drunk with his rival, who is then shot by Tony. Bill survives his wounds and, after reuniting with Peggy as a reformed man, learns that Ed captured Tony and beat him to the headline. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Watch Is My Face Red? (1932)
