Fascinating stuff, but had this been 15-20 minutes longer, the viewer would have gotten to get to know the blackmailing spider woman Hilary Brooke, a fascinating minx married to theater producer (Paul Harvey), murdered right after Harvey storms out on the dying marriage. The audience knows from the start who the killer is, and that adds a bit of irony to the case. Sleazy D. A. Raymond Burr uses his crafty nature to pin it on Harvey, so private detective Robert Rockwell and Harvey's daughter, Barbara Fuller, join forces to expose the truth which takes the plotline down some very dark, unexpected paths.
At only an hour, this is one of those films that a few more reels should have been written to expand the story and add depth to otherwise one dimensional characters. Burr deliciously uses what he's got in another dark part, commanding every moment, but a few more scenes could have revealed a lot more about his sinister manner, just as more time on screen could have revealed more about murder victim Brooke. In smaller parts, Barbara Pepper, Emory Parnell, Emory Jackson and John Aldredge add interesting color. With a fast pacing but certain important elements missing, this ends up being just an ordinary D grade programmer while it could have been a classic film noir and far more intriguing.
At only an hour, this is one of those films that a few more reels should have been written to expand the story and add depth to otherwise one dimensional characters. Burr deliciously uses what he's got in another dark part, commanding every moment, but a few more scenes could have revealed a lot more about his sinister manner, just as more time on screen could have revealed more about murder victim Brooke. In smaller parts, Barbara Pepper, Emory Parnell, Emory Jackson and John Aldredge add interesting color. With a fast pacing but certain important elements missing, this ends up being just an ordinary D grade programmer while it could have been a classic film noir and far more intriguing.