The Phantom of 42nd Street (1945)

A theatre critic (Dave O'Brien) teams up with a cop (Jack Mulhall) to investigate the murder of a Broadway actor.

Director:

Albert Herman

Writers:

Jack Harvey (based on novel), Milton Raison (based on novel),

Stars:

Dave O'Brien, Kay Aldridge, Alan Mowbray

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dave O'Brien	...	Tony Woolrich
Kay Aldridge	...	Claudia Moore
Alan Mowbray	...	Cecil Moore
Frank Jenks	...	Egbert Egelhofer, aka Romeo (Taxicab Driver)
Edythe Elliott	...	Janis Buchanan
Jack Mulhall	...	Lt. Walsh
Vera Marshe	...	Ginger
Stanley Price	...	Reggie Thomas
John Crawford	...	John Carraby
Cyril Delevanti	...	Roberts
Paul Power	...	Timothy Wells

Storyline

An actor is killed during the performance of a play and critic Tony Woolrich (Dave O'Brien) undertakes to solve the crime. Claudia Moore (Kay Aldridge, in her last movie role), the girl he loves, is suspected, but when two more deaths occur, she is also threatened by the Phantom Killer. During a production of "Julius Caesar" the killer makes a final attempt.

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Plot Keywords:

killer | critic | actor | julius caesar | murder | 

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fantasma da Rua 42

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

58 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

The archetype of what we boomers used to see as filler on local TV

This is a creative cheapie from PRC. I like Dave O'Brien. He ought to have had a major career in films. He's good here, but I guess PRC was not the place to forge a career.

I think I saw this on local TV years ago. If not, I saw many mysteries like it.

This is about murders involving a theatrical family. Alan Mowbry, looking quite gone to seed, plays the patriarch. He gets to ham it up a little in "Julius Caesar." Forty-second Street! Wow, are there ever phantoms wandering around! At the time this was made, they were pining for the days of the Ziedgfeld Girl. Then there were legitimate theaters, where plays were performed. Next came years of decline: peep shows, etc. Now it is all cleaned up and is like a vast mall. It isn't much fun. The phantoms will go elsewhere.