The Avenging Hand

A Chicago gangster is pleasantly surprised by violent crime in London. When he discovers crooks are after a mysterious package, and murder an innocent match-seller for it, he turns detective.

This is quite an engaging little crime drama about some hapless British robbers keeping a low profile in a luxury hotel on Hogmanay until they murder an innocent old street vendor (James Harcourt) and attract the attention of a far more serious, visiting, American gangster (Noah Beery) who initially sets his sights on their ill-gotten loot, but quickly decides to avenge the murder. The script is a bit wordy and the budget pretty scarce (much of the dialogue/action appears to happen in the hotel lobby which could have done with a bit more wattage on the lighting) but Beery keeps it moves along well for just over an hour.