Budd “Oscar”
Boetticher directed this sixty-two-minute film noir for Aro
Productions. It was distributed by Eagle-Lion Films from a story by
Malvin Wald—the only Malvin I have run across—responsible for
this hypothetical look into a mental institution where suspense takes
precedence over realism. There are some nice touches from
cinematographer, Guy Roe, with suspenseful opening scenes. It quickly
jumps right into the plot. Add to this the humorous “audience
icebreaker” between the two main stars and one will want to see
this one through. Yet it has not held up over the decades, in part
due to its view of mental institutions. So what we are left with are
trained professionals who made a movie together. The most famous name
in the cast is Richard Carlson, not to be confused with Hugh Marlowe.
But he is surrounded by the competent work of Lucille Bremer, Thomas
B. Henry, with a brow and nose the envy of eagles worldwide, and
Douglas Fowley. On the other hand, at about mid-career, the unique
Tor Johnson (bottom) is also cast. He
adds a distinct bit of scary anticipation to the film.
A well-known and
unethical judge, Herbert Heyes, is a fugitive from justice. Henry is
the independent sanitarium’s chief of staff, the one sheltering him
for a monetary agreement. Fowley
(below center) is a piece of work as the “Director of Abuse.” A
guy with zero empathy for patients, coming off as a violent prison
warden. Spineless Henry repeatedly disciplines him verbally yet he is
still employed. His favorite moments are with Tor, a former (very)
heavyweight boxer known as, “The Champ,” whose head may have hit
the mat too many times. Fowley is amused by banging on the fire
extinguisher outside Tor’s cell with a cell key. Hearing the
“bell,” Tor stands up and starts shadow boxing.
A savvy reporter, Bremer,
has been tracking the judge’s girlfriend who makes regular visits
to a sanitarium. She seeks out a flirting private investigator,
Carlson, and asks him to go undercover as a mental patient. To make
it appear legit, he will pretend to be her husband. Something he is
hoping will become a reality when he gets out. They pick a mental
disease to their liking and seemingly with no testing, Carlson is
recommended for an institution. Though the script establishes there
are multiple moods of manic-depressives, whenever Carlson is in the
presence of doctors, he only looks sadly aloof. He befriends an
understanding staff member, Ralf Harolde, who fears repercussions if
he speaks out about the abuse. Carlson is interested in a locked
ward, off-limits to everyone. One patient is a giddy arsonist. He
manages to set fire to the curtains in the judge's office. Carlson volunteers
to put out the fire and then recognizes the judge. For a depressed guy, Carlson asks too many probing questions and his
cover is blown. He is locked in the cell with Tor and we hear the
clink, clink from Fowley’s keyring. Carlson becomes Tor's tiny
training partner.
Meanwhile, the
resourceful reporter intercepts the judge’s girl en route for a
visit. Bremer ends up in the girlfriend’s attire and gets access to
the judge’s chambers. At gunpoint, she demands the judge free
Carlson. Fowley fails to lock the Tor door upon leaving and an angry
Tor has no trouble identifying the key torture guy. While this is
transpiring, cowardly Harolde actually called the police with the
judge’s objections being overruled. Carlson and Bremer kiss and
Harolde, looking at the two lovebirds, closes the movie with, 'I
never did think he was crazy.'
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