Runtime:
94 minutes
Directed
by: Roy Rowland
Starring:
Van Johnson, Arlene Dahl, Gloria DeHaven, Tom Drake, Leon Ames
From:
MGM
Here is a random noir which I can say is good:
You know, I would actually frequent a place called HIPPO'S COFFEE POT pretty often.
Last night TCM showed this film noir, and I figured it was worth a shot even if I understood beforehand it was not a classic. It was interesting as an early MGM attempt at the genre and while I thought it was “only” good, I can't complain as hey, it's still good. Plus, a location in the film is actually known as Hippo's Coffee Pot, and the titular Hippo was a short, fat dude.
Van Johnson is babyfaced cop Mike Conovan, who not only teams up with an aging partner losing his eyesight but also a young neophyte cop as they investigate the killing of a fellow police officer. The case ends up involving the likes of Hippo, strippers-including Gloria DeHaven-bookies and the robbing of gamblers. Arlene Dahl plays Mike's wife and she starts becoming uncomfortable being married to someone with such a dangerous job.
While this is not great nor a must-see (tough and gritty like the following year's notable MGM effort, The Asphalt Jungle, this is not), hopefully Scene of the Crime would at least be acceptable for noir fans; it was for me. It still has what you'd expect, from the tough dialogue and scenes set in seedy locations to dark shadows, shootouts, fistfights, and more. The movie is not something to spend a lot of time on tracking down (although it can be rented from Amazon)... if it happens to be on TV like it was last night, you may find it to be an acceptable way to spend an hour and a half... even if it is on the predictable side.
Last night TCM showed this film noir, and I figured it was worth a shot even if I understood beforehand it was not a classic. It was interesting as an early MGM attempt at the genre and while I thought it was “only” good, I can't complain as hey, it's still good. Plus, a location in the film is actually known as Hippo's Coffee Pot, and the titular Hippo was a short, fat dude.
Van Johnson is babyfaced cop Mike Conovan, who not only teams up with an aging partner losing his eyesight but also a young neophyte cop as they investigate the killing of a fellow police officer. The case ends up involving the likes of Hippo, strippers-including Gloria DeHaven-bookies and the robbing of gamblers. Arlene Dahl plays Mike's wife and she starts becoming uncomfortable being married to someone with such a dangerous job.
While this is not great nor a must-see (tough and gritty like the following year's notable MGM effort, The Asphalt Jungle, this is not), hopefully Scene of the Crime would at least be acceptable for noir fans; it was for me. It still has what you'd expect, from the tough dialogue and scenes set in seedy locations to dark shadows, shootouts, fistfights, and more. The movie is not something to spend a lot of time on tracking down (although it can be rented from Amazon)... if it happens to be on TV like it was last night, you may find it to be an acceptable way to spend an hour and a half... even if it is on the predictable side.
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