The Man Who Wouldn't Talk

Even by Fox's handsome standards, production values for this "B" from the Sol Wurtzel unit rate as commendably high. True, this unusual, compellingly off-beat murder/courtroom drama (partly scripted by Fox's ace Ellis-Logan team) is inclined to be a bit talky, but the acting is fine. Just look at that cast! The support players enjoy some real moments of glory here, particularly Irving Bacon as a swaggering raconteur, and Eric Blore mugging delightfully as a simpering servant.

My only complaint is that director David Burton, or film editor Alex Troffey, have a disconcerting habit of jarringly cutting into a full-face close-up from a profiled two-shot. In other respects, however, the direction is most efficient and the photography commendably crisp.

While "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk" has a story that is VERY hard to believe, it still is well worth seeing. It's a B-movie but despite that, it is very interesting and worth seeing. Plus, Lloyd Nolan (who did a lot of Bs) did a nice job here as did the director.

The film begins with a man being murdered. Someone is arrested for the killing but soon the real killer comes forward and admits he did it. Despite this, the killer (Nolan) won't say who he is or why he did it. The rest of the film consists of investigators and the court ultimately figuring out who he is as well as his more than justifiable reasons to kill the man. The answers are very satisfying...provided you turn off that part of your brain that questions just how realistic the story happens to be. Yes, it is far-fetched but still quite nice.

Lloyd Nolan is toiling away in a mine in Chile when the mail and magazines come in. Most of his fellow workers are interested in the girlie magazines, but there is some discussion of the news item about the mine being purchased by a New York company, with a picture of its CEO: Onslow Stevens. The next thing we know, we're int he office, where Stevens is a popular fellow, about to head off on a trip to Africa and more mines. He doesn't have time to see Nolan, who walks away with $5 from the generous man. The next thing we know, Stevens is shot, murdered, and a man is being arraigned while protesting his innocence. In walks Nolan. He says he shot Stevens and gives the weapon. When questioned, he gives the obviously false name of Joe Monday. Jean Rogers shows up. Her mother thinks Nolan might be her brother, last heard of on the Western Front. Nolan tells her he knew her brother, and he died heroically, but the reports were never made.

Wit his lawyer offering a play of insanity, the trial begins, and a different and darker story emerges.

There are lots of problems with trial, as surprise witnesses appear, and others are questions about opinions without a protest raised. Of course, it will all turn out well in the end, and I figured it out when things were going on, but mostly I enjoyed thefine performances. Nolan was fine and brooding, Mae Marsh turns up in a wheelchair, befitting her great age (she was 46), Mantan Moreland is a comic witness, and even Irving Bacon gets a big part. Eric Blore is a butler, Elizabeth Risdon is a pig-headed old lady willing to hang the jury, and Fred Kelsey shows up in uniform as the court bailiff. Although there are lots of corners cut in the scripting, it's another handsomely produced B movie from 20th Century-Fox.