I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Dwight Taylor (screen play)
Steve Fisher (novel)

Release Date:

31 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Promoter | Police | Murder | Inspector | Model

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Jill Lynn
Victor Mature	...	Frankie Christopher
Carole Landis	...	Vicky Lynn
Laird Cregar	...	Ed Cornell
William Gargan	...	Jerry MacDonald
Alan Mowbray	...	Robin Ray
Allyn Joslyn	...	Larry Evans
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Harry Williams
Chick Chandler	...	Reporter
Cyril Ring	...	Reporter
Morris Ankrum	...	Asst. District Attorney
Charles Lane	...	Keating, Florist
Frank Orth	...	Caretaker
Gregory Gaye	...	Headwaiter
May Beatty	...	Mrs. Handel (as Mae Beatty)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brooks Benedict	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	Detective (uncredited)
Wade Boteler	...	Detective (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Russ Clark	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Stanley Clements	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	Pedestrian Who Buys Newspaper (uncredited)
Bob Cornell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dorothy Dearing	...	Girl at Table (uncredited)
Eddie Dunn	...	Detective (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Detective (uncredited)
Sarah Edwards	...	Customer (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Detective (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Lady Handel's Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
George Hickman	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Frank McClure	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Pat McKee	...	Ozinski - Newsman (uncredited)
Edward McWade	...	Old Man at Library (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Philip Morris	...	Detective (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Mr. Handel (uncredited)
William J. O'Brien	...	Man Hosing Sidewalk (uncredited)
Albert Pollet	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Dick Rich	...	Detective (uncredited)
Tim Ryan	...	Detective (uncredited)
Harry Seymour	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Officer Murphy (uncredited)
Basil Walker	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Weigel	...	Gus, the Delicatessen Proprietor (uncredited)
Cecil Weston	...	Police Matron (uncredited)

Directed by
H. Bruce Humberstone		(as Bruce Humberstone)

Writing credits
Dwight Taylor		(screen play)
Steve Fisher		(novel "I Wake Up Screaming")

Produced by
Milton Sperling	....	producer

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Edward Cronjager		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
Richard Day
Nathan Juran

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little

Costume Design by
Gwen Wakeling

Makeup Department
Guy Pearce	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William Koenig	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ad Schaumer	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bernard Freericks	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Music Department
Cyril J. Mockridge	....	musical director
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Arthur Berthelet	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Frank L. James	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
George Wright	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Key Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Hot Spot" - UK, USA (working title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7647) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Immediately before shooting, a bottle of silver nitrate was accidentally spilled onto Carole Landis' lips by her dentist. As a result, her lips were blue for more than three weeks, posing an added challenge for the makeup crew.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jill's new address is apartment F, but when Cornell visits, the door is clearly marked 3B.

Quotes:

Ed Cornell:What she meant we'll never know. It's what she said that counts.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Things I Love

Lurid and Unforgettable

I've seen this many times over the years and never tire of it. The plot is a little bit predictable. But the details are what count.

It's like an Edward Hopper painting with dialogue, motion, and fabulously garish musical effects. Everything about it is seamy. Yes, the creepy plot but what a cast! Victor Mature and Betty Grable: These two were a couple to identify with? Not on a bet. They are as weird as Elisha Cook, always a pleasure to find in a movie, and the similarly excellent and mondo bizarro Laird Craiger. Carole Landis, a very likable performer who met a sad end in real life, was not exactly a wholesome beauty either. A beauty for sure but no sweet little thing.

The rest of the cast is great too. Alan Mowbry is icky in an understated way that is also as glaring as the theatrical lights blaring out the title at its opening.

And -- to be circumspect and give noting away: the shrine. The shrine will wake you up in days and years to come. Screams of horror; screams of laughter; screams of astonished appreciation for this one-of-a-kind cubic zirconium of a rare and unique gem.