Two Seconds

Two Seconds is a 1932 American PreCode crime drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Edward G. Robinson, Vivienne Osborne and Preston Foster. It was based on a successful Broadway play of the same name by Elliott Lester. The title refers to the two seconds it takes the condemned person to die in the electric chair after the executioner throws the switch. Preston Foster reprises the role he played on the Broadway stage.

Allen works with his friend and flatmate Bud Clark Preston Foster, as a riveter, high up on the girders of a skyscraper under construction, getting paid 62.50 a weekmore than a college professor. Bud is engaged to be married, and tries to set up a date for Allen that night, but Allen expresses some disinterest, as Bud keeps setting John Allen up with firewagons, his term for fat girls. Bud and John go out on the town after Bud winningon the horses. John sees that the girl that Bud has brought along for him to double date is another firewagon June Gittelson, so he splits off on his own, going to a Taxi dance hall nearby, where he meets dancer Shirley Day Vivienne Osborne. After dancing and talking to Shirley for some time, he indicates that they should talk some more. Cant. Gotta have a ticket. Well OK, Allen dozily says. Get a handful so we can dance a lot together. In the five minutes Allen is away buying tickets, Shirley has gone off with another customer. That customer gropes her, and Shirley Day causes a scene, shouting at the customer. He paid a dime and he thinks that entitles him to privileges. John Allen Wades in, punching the customer to the floor. Tony, the dance hall owner J. Carrol Naish, tells them both to get out, firing Shirley Day. Allen then takes Shirley for a milk shake.Allen had earlier said to Tony that he wanted a woman with an education, aspirations Aint no use both of us being dumb. She feigns respectability, telling him that she only works in the dance hall to support her sick parents, who live on a farm in Idaho and that she is educated got a year of high school. Shirley pretends to be interested in attending a lecture with him. Later, Bud is remonstrating with John about him having hooked up with a dance hall dame. How much money has she had off you Bud asks. not a red cent. Were going to a lecture, John said if a dame tells a guy shes going to a lecture that means one thing, shes got designs on him. John indicates that he doesnt want

Source: Wikipedia