It goes like this: Edward G. Robinson is engaged to Ann Sothern and the head of a gang. He quits the gang, leaves Sothern behind and heads to Europe, where he spends 5 years going broke. He comes home to find Sothern engaged to Ralph Bellamy and the gang taken over by Humphrey Bogart. Bogie ain't so fond of Eddie G. and has him killed by a couple of gunmen. Robinson escapes and gets shot anyway, but he lives because his name is above the title and we're only 45 minutes in. He is left for dead by the Bogie's gunmen.

All of this is pretty standard stuff for a gangster picture from Warners in 1940. Robinson was still the quintessential gangster and Bogart still had a few years to go until his leading man potential was discovered. Here's where the movie becomes...unique:

EGR, seriously wounded is discovered by a monk. He sees the monestary as a good hideout and rather easy work (they're a Florentine order of flower-growin' monks). Naturally he becomes an exemplary novice, especially when it comes to zinnias. That is, until he hires a local urchin to do his work for him, thus violating the 2 rules of the order: Don't hire others to do your work and something about lying to the order. Apparently this order had already moved past the concept of "Love thy neighbor."

Bogart's gang tries to force the monks out of the flower business. Take a moment and reread that sentance. Now say a silent prayer, thanking the deity of your choice for the Production Code. For you see, my angels, censorship is good. How else could this comedy/action/drama/romance about gangsters and monks have come to be?

Anyway, Robinson not only saves the monks, he rejoins them and blesses the union between Sothern and Bellamy. Actually, come to think of it, I don't remember if he rejoins the monks or not. And that should tell you everything you need to know. Don't get me wrong, it is a fun little movie and its strangeness provides for 90m of entertainment. Sothern and Bellamy are both lots of fun and Robinson plays his role with absolute sincerety, even when traipsing around Manhattan in his monk drag.