A reporter investigates the murder of a showgirl, who was the widow of a millionaire.A reporter investigates the murder of a showgirl, who was the widow of a millionaire.A reporter investigates the murder of a showgirl, who was the widow of a millionaire.
Allyn Drake
- Joyce Greeley
- (as Vivian Wilcox)
Charlie Hall
- Soapy Davis
- (as Charles Hall)
Jack Cheatham
- Druggist
- (uncredited)
Dick Elliott
- Ed Brandt
- (uncredited)
Frank Ellis
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured review
Although largely unknown except to "B"-feature fans who search out the DVD offerings from companies like Teakwood Video and R&B Video, this crime melodrama is actually a cut or two above the usual Monogram level and offers quite passable entertainment for viewers with a spare hour on their hands.
The playing by almost all concerned is unexpectedly very competent, while the pace rates as surprisingly brisk and the script even offers a genuinely unexpected double climax that is really staged with some flair by normally humdrum director Jean Yarbrough.
John Miljan gives a creditable account of himself in one of those shady lawyer roles in which he was frequently type-cast, though he is considerably less stiff than usual. Edith Fellows in her last starring role on the big screen before moving over to the stage and then television, is an effective heroine, although she does not have any of the film's songs. The script gives these to Jan Wiley, who renders them pleasantly enough though they are all quite unmemorable. Nonetheless, the backstage background with its bevy of leggy chorus girls certainly adds to the film's appeal. And any movie featuring George O'Hanlon is a must-see in my opinion! Hero Robert Lowery is one of the few weak links. He is a bit wet and the photography tends to be flat, but other production credits are more than adequate.
The playing by almost all concerned is unexpectedly very competent, while the pace rates as surprisingly brisk and the script even offers a genuinely unexpected double climax that is really staged with some flair by normally humdrum director Jean Yarbrough.
John Miljan gives a creditable account of himself in one of those shady lawyer roles in which he was frequently type-cast, though he is considerably less stiff than usual. Edith Fellows in her last starring role on the big screen before moving over to the stage and then television, is an effective heroine, although she does not have any of the film's songs. The script gives these to Jan Wiley, who renders them pleasantly enough though they are all quite unmemorable. Nonetheless, the backstage background with its bevy of leggy chorus girls certainly adds to the film's appeal. And any movie featuring George O'Hanlon is a must-see in my opinion! Hero Robert Lowery is one of the few weak links. He is a bit wet and the photography tends to be flat, but other production credits are more than adequate.
- JohnHowardReid
- Jul 10, 2008
- Permalink
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film received its earliest documented telecast Monday 21 August 1944 on New York City's pioneer television station WNBT (Channel 1). Post-WWII television viewers got their first look at it in New York City Tuesday 25 May 1948 on WCBS (Channel 2), in Cincinnati Tuesday 7 June 1949 on WKRC (Channel 11), in Los Angeles Sunday 19 June 1949 on KTLA (Channel 5), and in Salt Lake City Thursday 15 December 1949 on KSL (Channel 5).
Details
- Runtime1 hour 1 minute
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Criminal Investigator (1942) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer