I Killed That Man

I'm beginning to find that the poison dart must have been quite popular in early mystery films. This is at least the fourth such movie I've seen. This one involves one of these darts cheating the hangman. A convicted murderer is about to enter the death chamber when he collapses. There are news people and an array of characters in the room, so one of them must have done it. After that it's the usual stuff. There is the aggressive young female reporter who would rather be married than continue her career. She gets in a bit over he head, of course, and sets things on edge. This is better than most. The acting is fine, there are some famous character actors, and the movie has a sense of humor. You can tell the production value is pretty good. If you don't think too much you can sit back and enjoy this like a bad TV show.

This is a mystery with elements of comedy. It also has (minor) noir elements and a romantic touch.

Ricardo Cortez is excellent in the lead. We begin as a man is about to be put to death in prison. The press and the law are there, as well as a few others who like to observe executions.

Things do not go as planned. And Cortez tries to solve the mystery right on the spot. That doesn't work. His girlfriend, reporter Joan Woodbury, gets involved. Iris Adrian is, as always, effective as a moll.

This sort of thing continued to be standard fare at Warner Brothers till the mid-forties. Interestingly, Monogram does it even better here. The list of players boasts only Cortez as a box-office name. But it's cast in a clever and entertaining manner and neatly directed by Phil Rosen.

This is the typical mystery thriller and comedy flick that spread during the thirties and forties. Only for those who crave for this kind of stuff. I don't belong to those audiences. I don't like comedies, especially the thirties and forties ones. And from a director such as Phil Rosen, a prolific grade Z films maker, you can understand that nothing really excits me. But I nevertheless tried this one, this short picture, and I must admit that it is agreeable, inventive, fresh to watch. To summarize, it is far better than many more movies of this kind for this period. So, if you are lucky enough to get it, try it.

This starts off quite intriguingly as we witness the dying moments of a felon heading to the chair. Only thing is, he never actually makes it - amidst his final confession in which he is about to implicate his paymaster, he is felled by a toxic dart and the police have rather an embarrassing mess to clear up. For some reason, the elderly "Lanning" (Harry Holman) is front and centre for the blame, but soon the assistant district attorney "Phillips" (Ricardo Cortez) and girlfriend reporter "Geri" (Joan Woodbury) conclude that's a red herring and are soon on the trail of the real criminal. It's hardly the best acted nor written drama you'll ever see, but Phil Rosen does manage to keep the tight cast all rowing in the same direction and the story mixes some light-heartedness - especially from switchboard operator/eavesdropper "Tommy" (George P. Breakston) with just enough mystery to amiably pass an hour or so.

On his way to receive a final toast - in the electric chair! - condemned Ralf Harold (as Nicholas Ross) pauses to let the assembled witnesses know he's going to give away the identity of a fellow criminal. But, just as he is about to reveal the crook's name, Mr. Harold is stricken by a deadly poison dart. District attorney Ricardo Cortez (as Roger Phillips) and attractive "Chronicle" reporter Joan Woodbury (as Geri Reynolds) sift through the suspects, banter romantically, and try to solve the murder. You've seen this kind of picture before, but the tired storyline in "I Killed That Man" is enlivened by its cast and crew.

Director Phil Rosen and his star, Mr. Cortez, were silent screen veterans (they'd worked together) who found less success after the advent of talking motion pictures; but, their skills are clearly evident, as they make the most of this quickly produced, low-budget film. Today, Mr. Rosen is not well-remembered; but, he worked on some of the most important Hollywood films of the teens and twenties (many are lost). Cortez reached a popularity peak in 1926, after working on films with Greta Garbo and D.W. Griffith. The supporting cast does very well, and Ms. Woodbury is a thoroughly charming leading woman.

****** I Killed That Man (11/28/41) Phil Rosen ~ Ricardo Cortez, Joan Woodbury, George Pembroke