glenndmiller

There is a lot of discussion as to those movie stars who died young (James Dean, etc.) and what would have become of them had they lived a long life. My number one candidate is the great Laird Cregar, who died at the age of 31.

The film is about a murdered up and coming actress, and the efforts of her sister (Betty Grable, in a rare dramatic role) and her promoter (Victor Mature) to try and solve the crime. But it is Laird Cregar, as the sinister detective assigned to the case, who dominates the movie with a performance that should have won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is focused on Mature as the killer, and his every action is to send him to the electric chair. His bulk dominates the screen; he speaks softly but with a sinister edge to every spoken word.

An early film noir that moves at a nice pace, with good work down by all the actors. But again, it is Cregar who is unforgettable. Watch and enjoy.

I first saw the movie when I was eight, and thought it was the best movie I had ever seen. Many years later, I was pleased to find that it was still a warm and amusing film. The chemistry between Hayley Mills and June Harding is simply wonderful (the two are excellent; it is amazing that Harding's career seem to end with this one film). Highly recommended.