A Fictional 1929 Silent-Era Murder of a Hollywood Film-Director (loosely based on a real-story from 1922), Open this William Castle B-Picture.
Film-Maker Richard Conti comes to Hollywood in 1951, Discovers the Case and is Intrigued and Considered it as a Story For His 1st Movie There. Even Going so Far as to Rent the Studio and Actual Building where the Murder Took Place.
An Off-Beat "B" from the Prolific William Castle, has Conti Slightly Miscast, but Brings Along a Number of "Old Timers" (mostly for Cameos), and Concocts a Dreary 20 Year Old Sensational Crime Juxtaposed to Contemporary Times.
Dredging Up Folks who Worked or Knew the Murder-Victim, Like Co-Workers (Henry Hull) and His Lover's Family and Acquaintances (Julie Adams and Paul Cavanaugh), along with some Others Around at the Time.
Conti Begins Making the Movie, when the Local Police Show Up as the Word Gets Out by Way of Scuttlebutt, in the Form of Richard Egan ("an unsolved murder case is never closed.").
It's a Somewhat Interesting "Who Done It?" with Hollywood a the Backdrop, with some Dark Norish Exposure, Red Herrings, and a Good Cast.
But the Film Ends Up Rather Flat, Considering, with a Melancholy Presentation and Motivations and Machinations of the Plot a bit Standard and Precautionary, with Very Little Style usually Found in This Type of Thing, a "B"-Crime-Mystery-Noir.
Also With Jim Backus and Cameos from Francis X. Bushman, Joel McCrea, and Other Walk-Ons and some who Appear in Old Movie Screenings.
Overall, Different, Intriguing, but Not Very Stylish, with a Flat and Unimpressive Look.
Still, for Movie-Buffs, it's Somewhat a Treat and Others Might Find it...
Worth a Watch.
Film-Maker Richard Conti comes to Hollywood in 1951, Discovers the Case and is Intrigued and Considered it as a Story For His 1st Movie There. Even Going so Far as to Rent the Studio and Actual Building where the Murder Took Place.
An Off-Beat "B" from the Prolific William Castle, has Conti Slightly Miscast, but Brings Along a Number of "Old Timers" (mostly for Cameos), and Concocts a Dreary 20 Year Old Sensational Crime Juxtaposed to Contemporary Times.
Dredging Up Folks who Worked or Knew the Murder-Victim, Like Co-Workers (Henry Hull) and His Lover's Family and Acquaintances (Julie Adams and Paul Cavanaugh), along with some Others Around at the Time.
Conti Begins Making the Movie, when the Local Police Show Up as the Word Gets Out by Way of Scuttlebutt, in the Form of Richard Egan ("an unsolved murder case is never closed.").
It's a Somewhat Interesting "Who Done It?" with Hollywood a the Backdrop, with some Dark Norish Exposure, Red Herrings, and a Good Cast.
But the Film Ends Up Rather Flat, Considering, with a Melancholy Presentation and Motivations and Machinations of the Plot a bit Standard and Precautionary, with Very Little Style usually Found in This Type of Thing, a "B"-Crime-Mystery-Noir.
Also With Jim Backus and Cameos from Francis X. Bushman, Joel McCrea, and Other Walk-Ons and some who Appear in Old Movie Screenings.
Overall, Different, Intriguing, but Not Very Stylish, with a Flat and Unimpressive Look.
Still, for Movie-Buffs, it's Somewhat a Treat and Others Might Find it...
Worth a Watch.