L'assassin au gant de velours

(Slight Spoilers) Intelligent little murder drama where were shown who the murderer is even before he murders his victim. Working for the election of Richard Daniels, Samuel S. Hinds, for mayor of Chatsburg crusading lawyer and crime-fighting, that's a laugh, radio personality Jerry Lidimer, Lee Bowman, is in the know to just what Daniels is to do to in combating crime after he gets into office. Jerry is really working for the Matty Mob who's paying him $1,000.00 a week for his services.

Having Matty's hit men knock off Mayor Daniels crime-fighting attorney general Hunter J. Turnley, by telling them wheres he's going on vacation and thus away from his police protection, Jerry is now made by the unsuspecting Mayor Daniels special prosecutor which makes him even more effective for the mob not the law-abiding people of Chatsburg who he's sworn to serve.

Mayor Daniels later gets this special delivery letter that asks him about a reference for Jerry and how he was able to pay up front $28,000.00 in cash for a $80,000.00 insurance policy. Daniels knowing that Jerry was flat broke where he started to work for him less then a year ago also knows that there's something not kosher with Jerry and tells him that he's going to announce an investigation on his finances the next day.

Panic-stricken Jerry rigs Mayor Daniels car and the next morning as the Mayor is about to start the car motor he's blown to bits. Having a perfect pasty to take the fall diner owner Eddie Wright, Eddie Quillan, Jerry is now in the clear not only to be special prosecutor but mayor as well of Chatsburg. This will give the Matty Mob the run of the city with nothing to fear from the police and the law. What Jerry didn't count on is the man in charge of police lab Gordon McKay, Van Heflin.

Getting all the evidence together Gordon and his pretty assistant Jane Mitchell, Marsha Hunt, at first exonerates the accused and bewildered Eddie Wright of Mayor Daniels murder. With Jerry desperately trying to put the frame on poor Eddie and with a little conniving, on his part, Gordon gets the goods on Jerry by getting a sample of his hair which has particles that were found at the murder scene.

The ending has Jerry who found out about Gordon's evidence against him ,from an unsuspecting Jane, have it out with Gordon, who knew he was coming to murder him, who called the police in advance and also gets Jerry pinned with a dart that he was practicing with all through the film.

Van Heflin was both valiant and funny as the somewhat peculiar lab technician Gordon McKay and his scenes with the pretty Marsha Hunt were, besides a number of fight scenes, the highlight of the movie "Kid Glove Killer".

Voters elect to "clean up crime" by electing Samuel S. Hinds (as Richard Daniels) mayor of a small city. Gangsters strike back immediately by murdering his district attorney. The homicide is investigated by forensics expert Van Heflin (as Gordon McKay) and his attractive assistant Marsha Hunt (as Jane Mitchell). She provides Mr. Heflin with most of his cigarettes. A likely couple, they say "match me" instead of "got a light?" Special prosecutor and crime-busting radio show host Lee Bowman (as Gerald "Jerry" Ladimer) is also on the hunt. In a "love triangle" subplot that adds tension later on, both men are attracted to Ms. Hunt...

As a car-hop, young Ava Gardner asks if anyone wants desert. Things heat up when the mayor is also murdered. In a "best supporting actor" role, sweating restaurant owner Eddie Quillan (as Eddie Wright) is accused. We know who the real killer is and who could be the next victim. This was a good feature length debut for director Fred Zinnemann. Before the car bomb, one of the characters says, "Wouldn't it Be Nice" which has no connection to The Beach Boys' song. However, the phrases "Don't Worry Baby" and "I Get Around" fairly quickly follow. God only knows if Brian Wilson was jotting down song titles while watching.

****** Kid Glove Killer (4/17/42) Fred Zinnemann ~ Van Heflin, Marsha Hunt, Lee Bowman, Eddie Quillan

Kid Gloves Killer (1942)

There might be little to recommend this movie beyond a look at Van Heflin in a constrained early role. Oh, and that the director is the noted Fred Zinneman himself. This is a crime caper formula movie, and it's enjoyable all through. For me, a highlight was the unexpected ease of the leading actress, Marsha Hunt (who is still alive at 100 years old as I write this). She is a kind of "regular girl" who everyone is meant to like, but she has a natural presence on screen that seems like should have meant something bigger. Maybe that kind of "normalness" isn't quite star material, not bigger than life. But see it for her, at least. Heflin is an acquired taste these days, but an interesting leading man a little different than the rest (he's great in "Martha Ivers" and "Act of Violence"). His role here is meant to be a really determined and incorruptable science guy in a crime lab. There is a little of that show-and-tell that happens in some detective movies of the time, but not too much to make it lag. The plot owes something to gangster films, where the big crime guy has the D.A. in his pocket. But this same man is also in love (or pretends to be) with the Hunt character. It's all in good entertainment fun, however, nothing too thrilling, and nothing too corny or cheap either. Back to Zinneman. This is his first feature film direction. The snappy, smart construction might be a sign of things to come, once he gets meatier material. Interesting!

This is a wonderful little picture from MGM as it delivers on all levels. Unlike many "B-pictures", this film features better production values, better characters and a much better written script than usual. While MOST B-movies have plot holes and logical errors, this one is very tight and interesting and seems superior to the usual detective films.

Van Heflin plays a brilliant forensic scientist who works for the police. In many ways, he seems like a 1940s version of the TV show CSI--but his assumptions and equipment seem rather realistic and less fantastic than the shows we see on television today. For example, when Van finds what MIGHT be evidence, he is very hesitant to make huge logical leaps and is very cautious and thorough. In addition, he uses standard equipment of the day to investigate the crimes (whereas, CSI often features procedures that are NOT really used today).

Van is ably assisted by the pretty Marsha Hunt--who Van seldom seems to recognize for her many talents. Finally, after seeing no reaction from him, she begins to date the District Attorney and they become quite serious.

There's a lot more to the story than this, but I don't want to spoil it. Just be prepared to be impressed by an intelligently written and acted film--and much of the credit should go to the great director, Fred Zinneman, who is able to get the absolute most from the material. It's not surprising to find that Fred went on to better and more prestigious projects--probably thanks to his success with little films.

FYI--Although the forensics are pretty good, at one point Van picks up what's left of a pipe bomb with his bare hands. What about fingerprints?!

In Zinneman's directorial debut, as in most of his films, the emphasis is on the interaction among human minds, souls, emotions, words, and actions. Forensic pathologist Heflin tries to clear accused killer Quillan from being railroaded by radio cop Lee Bowman. Marsha Hunt is marvelous as the lady caught in the triangle. John Litel is memorable in supporting role.