Jail Bait

Jail Bait

Year: 1954

Runtime: 74 mins

Language: English

CrimeThriller

Don Gregor, son of renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Boris Gregor, falls in with young criminal Vic Brady. The duo brandishes a gun during an attempted armed robbery, but the heist goes awry when Gregor unintentionally kills a night watchman. Suspecting Gregor will surrender, Brady murders him and pressures Dr. Gregor to surgically give him a new face.

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Timeline & Setting – Jail Bait (1954)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Jail Bait (1954). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Police Station, Monterey Theatre, Boris Gregor's Office, Loretta's Residence, Bar, Gregor Residence

The story unfolds across a mid-century urban setting, with key action taking place in a bustling police station, a seedy bar, and the Monterey Theatre where the payroll heist unfolds. The Gregor family offices and Loretta's residence function as backdrops for the crime, disguises, and confrontations that drive the plot. The locations collectively establish a tension-filled environment where crime, confrontation, and deception are part of everyday life.

🏙 City 🚓 Police 🎭 Theater 🏠 Residence 🍸 Bar

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:38

Main Characters – Jail Bait (1954)

Meet the key characters of Jail Bait (1954), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Don Gregor (as Clancy Malone)

A young gangster drawn into a payroll robbery who struggles with guilt after killing the nightwatchman. He is pulled between ambition and conscience, ultimately choosing to surrender before the operation is completed, though his fate becomes entangled with his father's schemes.

🔪 Criminal 😨 Guilt 🧭 Dual loyalties

Dr Boris Gregor (Herbert Rawlinson)

A renowned plastic surgeon who shapes the plot by assisting in the disguise and orchestrating the cover-up. He maintains a calm facade while manipulating others, and his actions reveal a chilling willingness to protect the family at any cost.

🩺 Surgeon 🧪 Manipulation 👨‍👧 Family

Marilyn Gregor (Dolores Fuller)

The nurse and wife of Boris who aids in the operations and serves as a crucial ally for the family’s schemes. She participates in the medical aspects of the disguise, remaining composed even as the plot spirals toward tragedy.

🧑‍⚕️ Nurse 🧩 Conspiracy 🏠 Family

Vic Brady (Timothy Farrell)

A ruthless partner in crime who pressures Don, kills the nightwatchman’s killer, and devises a plan to escape via plastic surgery. He is pragmatic, self-preserving, and untrusting of the Gregors, ultimately meeting a violent end.

💼 Criminal 🗝️ Deception ⚔️ Rival

Loretta (Theodora Thurman)

Brady’s girlfriend who becomes involved in the criminal circle and serves as a key ally for the disguise operation. Her involvement adds tension to the criminal network and highlights how personal relationships feed the plot.

💋 Femme Fatale 🏠 Residence 🕹️ Complicity

Miss Willis (Mona McKinnon)

A bookkeeper who survives the theatre robbery and identifies Don as the killer, adding pressure on the investigation. Her presence as a witness shapes the detective work that follows.

🧾 Witness 🕵️‍♀️ Surveillance 🏢 Workplace

Lt Bob Lawrence (Steve Reeves)

A lawman who, alongside Inspector Johns, pursues the gang and plays a supporting role in tracking the escalating crime. He helps connect the dots as the plot races toward its climax.

🚓 Police 🧭 Investigation 🗣️ Cooperation

Inspector John (Lyle Talbot)

A sharp-eyed inspector who suspects Don’s connections to Vic Brady and pushes the investigation forward. He represents the persistent scrutiny and moral pressure that accompanies the criminal acts.

🕵️‍♂️ Detective 🔎 Suspicion 💬 Interrogation

Night Watchman

The guard at the payroll’s access point who is killed during the heist, catalyzing the investigation and the emotional core of Don’s guilt.

🔦 Victim ⚖️ Crime catalyst 🕯️ Nighttime

Police Doctor (John Avery)

A medical professional who appears in the law-enforcement world, supporting the investigation and treatment aspects of the case.

🏥 Medical 🧭 Inquiry 👮 Law

Radio News Announcer (Edward D. Wood Jr.)

A radio voice that frames the story for the public, signaling the ongoing chase and the consequences of the heist.

🎙️ Media 🗣️ Broadcast 📰 Public awareness

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:38

Major Themes – Jail Bait (1954)

Explore the central themes of Jail Bait (1954), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💥 Crime & Guilt

The plot is propelled by a sequence of rash criminal acts culminating in murder and a broad cover-up. Don Gregor wrestles with the weight of his choices as guilt sharpens the moral stakes and draws the investigation toward his door. Police pressure and the consequences of violence push characters toward confession, flight, or confrontation.

🎭 Disguise & Identity

Disguises and deception are central, from a hidden revolver to a medical disguise and a planned plastic-surgery ruse. Characters hide their motives behind false appearances, making it hard to separate friend from foe. The narrative reveals how easily identity can be manufactured and manipulated.

👨‍👦 Family & Loyalty

Family ties influence decisions and loyalties, with Boris Gregor using his position to manipulate outcomes. The dynamic between father and son shows conflicting urges toward protection, duty, and self-preservation in a criminal web. The ending tests whether familial bonds can survive exposure to justice and tragedy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:38

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Bleak crime spirals with moral collapse like in Jail Bait

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a responsible, often respected, parent whose life is shattered by a child's disastrous choices. The parent then engages in a risky, morally questionable scheme to shield the child, only for their actions to compound the tragedy. The journey is one of profound loss, examining the limits of parental protection.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of paternal love pushed to its darkest extremes, the theme of family name and honor being destroyed, and the emotionally heavy conclusion that sacrifice cannot always avert fate. They share a somber, dramatic tone.

Unlock the Full Story of Jail Bait

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Jail Bait Summary

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Jail Bait Summary

Jail Bait Timeline

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Jail Bait Timeline

Jail Bait Spoiler-Free Summary

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Jail Bait Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Jail Bait

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