Half a Sinner (1940 film)

Half a Sinner is a 1940 American film directed by Al Christie. It stars Heather Angel as a schoolteacher who in one day becomes Public Enemy Number One in Pennsylvania. The film is based on Dalton Trumbos short story Lady Takes a Chance. The working titles of this film were Everything Happens to Ann and The Lady Takes a Chance.

Returning to her home Anne decides to have one day of excitement in her life. She spends her savings on an expensive dress and hosiery and releases her pet canary Delilah in the open air for a taste of freedom. Sitting in a public park she is bothered by rude man who propositions her. When Anne sees he is carrying a concealed revolver she knocks him down and drives off with his car. The man she has pushed down is a gangster, the car she has driven off with is one that he stole, and on the floor of the back seat is the body of a man that he just murdered. The dead man is covered by the overcoat of the murderers employer a powerful crime boss. Unaware of her back seat passenger and that she is being pursued by the police and murderous criminals, Ann picks up a handsome hitchhiker...The film is Dalton Trumbos second screen credit and the last of Jack Skirballs Arcadia Pictures. Skirball, an ordained Rabbi later produced Alfred Hitchcocks Shadow of a Doubt. The film started production in February 1939 and was to be released by Grand National Films. After the 1939 demise of Grand National, the completed film was picked up for release by Universal Pictures. ........

Source: Wikipedia