Behind Green Lights (1946)Police lieutenant Sam Carson investigates a political murder after the victim is dumped at the door of police headquarters. Director:Otto Brower |
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Behind Green Lights (1946)Police lieutenant Sam Carson investigates a political murder after the victim is dumped at the door of police headquarters. Director:Otto Brower |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Carole Landis | ... |
Janet Bradley
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William Gargan | ... |
Lt. Sam Carson
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Richard Crane | ... |
Johnny Williams - Reporter
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| Mary Anderson | ... |
Nora Bard
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| John Ireland | ... |
Det. Oppenheimer
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Charles Russell | ... |
Arthur Templeton
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| Roy Roberts | ... |
Max Calvert
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Mabel Paige | ... |
Flossie
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Stanley Prager | ... |
Ruzinsky - Milkman
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Charles Tannen | ... |
Ames - Reporter
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Police lieutenant Sam Carson investigates a political murder after the victim is dumped at the door of police headquarters.
This is a wonderful mystery film with a film noir-like edge. Oddly, the film has mostly been forgotten today and it's slipped into the public domain--which often means that a film is terrible--which this film certainly is NOT! The film begins with a wild setup--a car with a dead body in it rolls to a stop right in front of the police station! Inside the car is a shady detective--but who killed him and why? The film did a great job of keeping you guessing--as it's NOT readily apparent who did it. Into the mix are some nice plot elements--such as the introduction of an inexperienced news reporter into the tale as well as the prime suspect being the daughter of a man who is running for election in only days! As for the acting, that and the script are what I really liked. Despite being mostly unknown and supporting actors, the film was dandy entertainment. In particular, I liked William Gargan as the investigating lieutenant--he was very believable and far from flashy--but this made his role so wonderful. A big-name star might have tried too hard to dominate the scenes or take too commanding a presence--instead, he just seemed like a smart and decent "everyman". Also, while his role was very small, I was happy to see a young John Ireland--before he rose to fame in the world of Noir.
Overall, for mystery and film noir fans, this is a great little film. It's intelligently written and doesn't assume the audience is stupid! Great job.