La casa de enfrente

From a literal standpoint the title for this film seems somewhat irrelevant, since the house across the street only involves the opening sequence. But from a figurative viewpoint, the title is apt, indicating that most urban Americans don't really know much about what is going on across the street from where they live, crime, murder, shakedowns, and such. Across the street could be across the nation.

Dave Joslin (Wayne Morris) is the managing editor for the local newspaper, involved in attacking a crime syndicate running the city headed by boss Keever (Bruce Bennett). When a key witnessed is murdered by Keever's hit-man right in front of a stakeout, Joslin writes a scathing editorial about the ineffectiveness of the police department in handling the mob. Joslin's boss, J.B. Grennell (Alan Hale, Sr.), running scared, orders Joslin to back off. When Joslin refuses, J.B. reassigns him to the Bewildered Hearts office replacing Joslin's lady love, Kit Williams (Janis Paige), who is much obliged to be reassigned. (One wonders if this flick wasn't the basis for the early television sitcom starring Peter Lawford and Marcia Henderson, "Dear Phoebe," where the advice columnist is a man.) While doing his duties as advice to the lovelorn columnist, Joslin stumbles onto a situation that is connected to the mob hit. He and Kit begin a merry chase that leads them into dark corners, near-death escapes, and lots of other fun and mayhem before pulling all the loose ends together.

Wayne Morris is always a joy to watch. Janis Paige doesn't get to sing and dance, but does get to turn in a good performance as assistant sleuth. The rest of the cast is great, especially James Mitchell as Marty Bremer. "The House Across the Street" is basically a comedy-thriller, giving the audience a fair run for its money.

This B-movie was directed by Richard Bare, the guy responsible for all those Joe McDoakes shorts as well as the rural comedies of the 60s, like "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres". The story, though very familiar, is quite well done.

The editor of a local newspaper is in hot water with the owner. It seems that Dave Joslin (Wayne Morris) has been running all sorts of critical stories about a mobster named Keever (Bruce Bennett)...and Keever is threatening to sue. But when Joslin refuses to back off, the owner can't fire him...he has a contract with Joslin. So instead to punish him, he's assigned to run the lonely hearts department. Later, when an odd story about a man who was slipped a mickey lands on his desk, Joslin investigates...and thinks this all might be related to Keever. And, instead of going to the police, Joslin decides to investigate for himself.

During the 1930s and 40s, there were tons of mystery films in which some member of the public investigates and solves a crime. However, this one is handled more smoothly--with some very nice acting, writing and direction. Worth seeing despite being a rather slight movie.

A police detective bungles a stakeout, resulting in the murder of a key witness against a crime boss (Bruce Bennett). Against the advice of his skittish publisher, a managing editor (blond bruiser Wayne Morris) launches a hard-hitting campaign against police incompetence. When Bennett, escorted by mouthpiece and torpedo, rattles his sabres, the publisher puts Morris on the Bewildered Hearts column as punishment. And lo and behold, that's where the case gets solved.

A problem brought by a lovelorn gal, about an incident involving her drunken boyfriend in a mob-owned nightclub, raises red flags. Morris and his sob-sister girlfriend (Janis Paige) start pursuing the story, despite kicks in the shins, threats from guns and almost being run down by a careening black sedan. It turns out that a snapshot taken by the club's roving photographer conceals incriminating evidence....

The House Across the Street stays a fairly generic crime programmer, even down to its attempts at comic and romantic relief. Luckily, the story stays reasonably tight, centering on why and where the boyfriend vanished that dimly remembered night. Its biggest puzzle is its title: The House Across the Street refers to the residence being staked out at the movie's beginning; it's no more than the wick that kindles the plot.

A police detective is watching a house across the street. A postman comes upon the house. After awhile, the real postman shows up. The man across the street is a witness against racketeer Matthew Keever and has been murdered by the fake postman. Manager editor Dave Joslin (Wayne Morris) writes several editorials criticizing the police. Keever threatens the paper and Joslin gets demoted to an advice column. Assisted by Kit Williams (Janis Paige), Joslin continues his investigation.

A stuntwoman has a nice stunt. This is the lesser genre of comedy-noir. It's a B-movie. The comedy is lame. I don't think comedy is a natural fit for this genre. That goes for the lead character as well. He's a bit of a Bubba which doesn't fit the role of a hardnosed newspaper man. I'm not laughing. Kit is a good girl Friday and her character has the nice stunt. It's not more than seventy minutes which is part of the B-movie production. It does mean that this movie doesn't spend the money on an action thriller ending and it rushes the wrap-up. It's a B-movie.

Managing Editor Wayne Morris is trying to get the goods on gangster Bruce Bennett, but it's all speculation, and Bennett's lawyer is getting nasty about it. Morris won't lay off, and Morris can't be fired, so publisher Alan Hale demotes him to the paper's Miss Lonelyhearts, bumping Janis Paige back to features. Morris doesn't give up, and finds a lead, putting him and Miss Paige into danger.

Morris gives one of those performances that seems all declaratory, but Miss Paige is cute as a button. But her roles were unsatisfactory, so she gave up the movies a couple of years later and became a Broadway star. She's still around as I write this at the age of 101.