BEHIND LOCKED DOORS (1948)

Budd 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 is 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 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 shadowboxing.  

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 recognises 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 of 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 that the judge free Carlson. Fowley fails to lock the Tor door upon leaving, and "The Champ" has no trouble identifying the key torture guy. While this was 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.'