The Man Who Wouldn't Die (1942)

A private detective gets mixed up with a phony spiritualist racket.

Director:

Herbert I. Leeds

Writers:

Arnaud d'Usseau (screen play), Clayton Rawson (novel),

Stars:

Lloyd Nolan, Marjorie Weaver, Helene Reynolds

Cast

Cast overview:
Lloyd Nolan	...	Michael Shayne
Marjorie Weaver	...	Catherine Wolff
Helene Reynolds	...	Anna Wolff
Henry Wilcoxon	...	Dr. Haggard
Richard Derr	...	Roger Blake
Paul Harvey	...	Dudley Wolff
Billy Bevan	...	Phillips, the Butler
Olin Howland	...	Chief of Police Jonathan Meek (as Olin Howlin)
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Alfred Dunning
LeRoy Mason	...	Zorah Bey
Jeff Corey	...	Coroner Tim Larsen
Francis Ford	...	Caretaker

Storyline

In the shadows of the night Dudley Wolff, his secretary Alfred Dunning, and his doctor, Haggard, bury a body in the estate cemetery. At the house, Wolff's daughter Catherine arrives unexpectedly and tells her step-mother Anne Wolff that she has just been married to Roger Blake who will be along in a few days. Cathy retires and is awakened by a mysterious assailant who fires a shot at her, but her parents tell her she was just dreaming. Wolff goes to the cemetery and finds the body missing. The scared Cathy calls in fast-talking private detective Mike Shayne and, since her father doesn't like detectives, she introduces him as her husband. That evening Shayne hears a shot and finds that Haggard has been killed. While the police are questioning the family, the lights go out and a shot is fired from outside.

---

Plot Keywords:

detective | electricity | laboratory | cook | skeleton | 

---

Taglines:

An Empty Grave... A Cunning, Gunning Ghost... And Michael Shane!

---

Genres:

Mystery

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Million Dollar Ghost

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Shayne confronts Dudley Wolff, his wife and Dunning in the den, he refers to Wolff's partner buried "last night in the woods". That was actually two nights before, as the previous night was the one when Dr Haggard got killed.

---

Quotes

Anna Wolff: [offering a drink] Would you care for something to warm you up?
Catherine Wolff: I was on the wagon, but I'll think I'll step off and give my seat to a gentleman.

---

Connections

Follows Dressed to Kill (1941)

---

Soundtracks

"I'll See You in My Dreams"
(uncredited)
Music by Isham Jones
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Sung by Lloyd Nolan

User Reviews

THE BEST MICHAEL SHAYNE PICTURE OF THE SERIES, PERIOD!

What a great old film. I am lucky enough to have found over the years a mint 16mm sound print an a very good vhs copy (Captain Bejoiu). The story starts out with a very mysterious burial scene on a cold windy nite. There is the "Old Forboding Mansion" and the usual cast of 20th Century stock players including Paul Harvey who is great as Dudly Wolfe. But as usual, Lloyd Nolan steals the show as Shayne with his whimsical irish humor and dapper acting. Marge Reynolds is great as his wife? With the reoccuring thunder storm as a backdrop and the "undead" body with glowing eyes trying to kill any and everyone in the house, it makes for a spine-tingling murder mystery that is as good as most of the sad new ones w/o the sex and overdone violence. 1942 appears to be one of the best years for movies in Hollywood. So many great features with outstanding character actors of the time. LeRoy Mason is great as the "undead" killer who stocks the remaining frightened guests and family at the Wolfe Mansion. If it shows up on Fox Movie Channel, do yourself a favor and watch it!