A struggling writer becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation when his publisher is found dead in a manner mirroring one of the writer's proposed mystery storylines.
Acting
Chester Morris sells drunk confusion like it's his actual job.
Writing
Meta-mystery premise that bites its own tail deliciously.
Director
Robert Gordon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Constance Dowling later dated Italian director Elio Petri and influenced his work; this B-noir was her strange American farewell.
The 'writer as suspect' trope peaked post-war as Hollywood nervously eyed its own creative class; this is bargain-bin Hitchcock by way of Poverty Row.
US
