In 1940s Los Angeles, when womanizing composer Keith Vincent is found dead, the inquest concludes it was a suicide but police detective Joe Warne isn't so sure.
Cinematography
Venetian blind shadows doing heavy lifting.
Acting
George Raft's permanent smirk versus actual emotion.
Score
The fictional composer's bad music is plot-critical genius.
Director
Edwin L. Marin
George Raft
Joe Warne
Lynn Bari
Frances Ransom
Virginia Huston
Carol Page
Joseph Pevney
Ned "Fingers" Ford
Myrna Dell
Susan Flanders
Edward Ashley
Keith Vincent
Walter Sande
Lieutenant Halberson
Mabel Paige
Mrs. Warne
Bern Hoffman
Erik Torp
Queenie Smith
Queenie
Mack Gray
Gratz
Dorothy Adams
Angry Apartment House Tenant (uncredited)
Robert Andersen
Pat (uncredited)
John Banner
Charles Shawn (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
George Raft reportedly took this RKO B-picture to fulfill a contract obligation while waiting for better scripts that never came.
The 'dead composer' gimmick let RKO reuse existing musical cues, making this one of Hollywood's most economical noirs.
US
