Anthony Mann kept busy directing in the late forties. Distributed by Eagle-Lion Films, this seventy-two-minute film is based on a real-life case, forming the basis of a more famous film, Call Northside 777, the following year. This shoe-string budgeted film adds an extra dose of noir, so dark at times it is hard to see what’s going on. In the climactic scene, Hugh Beaumont and John Ireland aim guns in cave darkness better than most. With this very predictable, loaded script, one wonders how the police could accuse someone on hearsay and speculation and be such a bad judge of character. Obviously, things have not changed that much since. There is the usual suspense with questions and answers. Sheila Ryan is not a good judge of character either, as she assumes John Ireland is just having a bad day. Again. He was usually typecast as a bad guy or down and out loser. Hugh Beaumont, on the other hand, typically played a person in authority and is solid here as a thorough, cool and collected investigator. Just the opposite, Ireland loses his cool often with no sanctity for life.
Note: You may enjoy this one. The strangulated budget hurts the worse. Enjoy watching Beaumont's competent acting before "retiring" as an investigator and using his skills to figure out what Wally and Theodore are up to.
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