Nobody's Fool (1936)

Will Wright, a small-town waiter, interrupts the guest speaker at the Better Business Boosters luncheon when he asks rhetorically what can be done to improve the city's welfare. In response to Will's suggestions, George Baxter, a realtor, tells Will he would be happier in New York, and agreeing, Will packs up his bags and leaves town. Upon reaching New York, Will is mistaken for noted economist Mr. Wight and is about hold forth on his views, when Ruby Miller, a member of the audience, who is aware of the mix-up, quietly draws him away. Ruby is a member of a gang of con artists, which having discovered that racketeer "Dizzie" Rantz is not the owner of a narrow strip of land under his gambling house, plans to extort money from him, on condition that they do not reveal his lack of ownership. Because they are worried about Rantz' reaction, however, they ask Will to make the demand, convincing him they will build modern apartments for working people if they gain access to Rantz' land. Doc, another member of the gang, discovers that the land in question is owned by Mary Jones, and Will naively charms her into signing the land over to him. He then proceeds to talk to Rantz, who refuses to listen to him. Rantz convinces "Smooth" Jake Cavendish, the head of the gang and Ruby's boyfriend, that Will has double-crossed him. Rantz, mistakenly believing that Will is connected to District Attorney Bowen's office, agrees to meet with him if he brings Bowen with him. Jake, meanwhile, is planning to murder Will. Will then calls a meeting with Rantz, Jake and all their men as well as Ruby, Bowen, Baxter and "Sharkey," a policeman. When Will suggests that the owners of the land build low-rent housing, Rantz hesitates until Mary says she'll force him to move his buildings off her strip of land. Rantz and Jake form a legitimate partnership, after which Jake calls off the contract on Will, and Will is given an honorary membership in the home development league of New York. Ruby, who has fallen in love with Will, suggests that he look her up if he ever wants a home of his own.