Based on The Ticket-of-Leave Man, an 1863 play by Tom Taylor that introduced the character Hawkshaw the Detective, a popular figure in Victorian literature known for his cunning and relentless pursuit of justice, the name of this movie is a reference to the ticket of leave issued to convicts upon release.

Robert Brierly (John Warwick) and the notorious criminal, The Tiger (Tod Slaughter), both find themselves entangled in a love triangle with May Edwards (Marjorie Taylor). The Tiger, in a bid to separate Brierly from his beloved, orchestrates a cunning plan. He manipulates the situation to send Brierly to jail for passing bad checks, and then attempts to frame him for a heinous crime.

Another film that teams up Slaughter with director George King, this also has Hawkshaw the detective (Robert Adair) as the hero, stalking beer gardens for info on The Tiger and his henchmen. Soon, The Tiger has become Purvis, CEO of The Good Samaritan Help Society, presiding over this charity but really committing villainous deeds. I mean, the dude sets his office on fire and watches as one of his men burns inside, laughing like a lunatic. 

And of course, what’s a Tod Slaughter movie without his signature performance? His over-the-top cackling and scene-stealing antics are what you’re here for.

You can watch this on YouTube.