Waterfront Lady (1935)

This feature film from 1935 stars Anne Rutherford (at age 18) in her first leading role as Joan, a young performer trying to make ends meet singing at a lousy café. Joan's life takes a turn for the better, however, as she catches the eye of Ronny (Frank Albertson), a man on the run from the cops who takes up hiding in her father's boathouse. In order to repay a debt to his partner McFee, Ronny took the heat for a crime he did not commit. As his relationship with Jean flourishes, he can only hide his identity for so long, eventually admitting to his new love that he is a wanted man. Once Jean finds out, she convinces Ronny to turn himself in, but when he does so, he finds out that McFee has already told the truth. Will McFee's story be enough to save Jean's love, or is it already too late?