7.3/10
2,883
77 user 33 critic

I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Why is Inspector Ed Cornell trying to railroad Frankie Christopher for the murder of model Vicky Lynn?

Director:

(as Bruce Humberstone)

Writers:

(screen play), (novel)
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
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Reporter
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Reporter
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Assistant District Attorney
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Keating--Florist
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Cemetery Caretaker
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Headwaiter
May Beatty ...
Lady Handel (as Mae Beatty)

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Storyline

Promoter Frankie Christopher, being grilled by police in the murder of model Vicky Lynn, recalls in flashback: First meeting her as a waitress, Frankie decides to parlay her beauty into social acceptance and a lucrative career. He succeeds only too well: she's on the eve of deserting him for Hollywood...when someone kills her. Now Frankie gets the feeling that Inspector Ed Cornell is determined to pin the killing on him and only him. He's right. And the only one he can turn to for help is Jill, the victim's sister, who's been cool toward him... Written by Rod Crawford <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis


Certificate:

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Details

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Release Date:

31 October 1941 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Hot Spot  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| (RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Two famous melodies are heard in the Cyril J. Mockridge background score: "Over the Rainbow" (music by Harold Arlen, lyrics, not sung here, by E.Y. Harburg) from The Wizard of Oz (1939), and Alfred Newman's theme from Street Scene (1931). See more »

Goofs

During the nightclub scene, Frankie removes a price tag from Vicky's glove that wasn't in previous shots. See more »

Quotes

Jill Lynn: The trouble with you is you pretend you don't care about things, but you do.
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Connections

Featured in American Grindhouse (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

The Things I Love
(uncredited)
Music and lyrics by Harold Barlow and Lewis Harris
Based on "Melody," Op. 42, No.3
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Sung by Carole Landis
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User Reviews

intriguing ...
25 January 2003 | by (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews

Despite Victor Mature's claim that he never 'acted' in any of his films, he does well enough here. Full of shadows, sly humour and a storyline which keeps you guessing, plus that wonderful soundtrack (including snatches of Over The Rainbow), this stands as a monument to film noir - Betty Grable could clearly handle a non-musical role, Elisha Cook Jnr displays his twitchy vulnerability as he would in so many 40s thrillers. The real-life early deaths of Landis (playing Vicki here in a manner which reminded me of Vivien Leigh's Blanche Dubois, all flirty giggles) and Cregar (superb here as the corrupt detective gliding and purring in that unusual voice like a huge cat) do affect viewings of this film and give the proceedings a hint of sadness. This aside, there is much to enjoy, particularly in the supporting characters of Mature's actor and columnist friends. One niggle though, given the plot dependence on various people letting themselves into other people's apartments, how come Vicki got herself locked out?


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