The Runaround (1946)

Maverick private eyes Kildane and Quayle leave a large agency to work on their own. Their first assignment (pirated from the old firm): retrieve eloping heiress Penelope Hampton...in ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

Sam Hellman, Arthur T. Horman (screenplay),

Stars:

Ella Raines, Rod Cameron, Broderick Crawford

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ella Raines	...	Penelope 'Annabelle' Hampton
Rod Cameron	...	Eddie J. Kildane
Broderick Crawford	...	Louis Prentiss
Frank McHugh	...	Wally Quayle
George Cleveland	...	Feenan the cabbie
Joan Shawlee	...	Mamie 'Baby' Willis (as Joan Fulton)
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Norman Hampton
Joe Sawyer	...	Hutchins
Nana Bryant	...	Mrs. Mildred Hampton
Dave Willock	...	Hubert 'Billy' Willis
Charles Coleman	...	Butler
Jack Overman	...	Cusack

Storyline

Maverick private eyes Kildane and Quayle leave a large agency to work on their own. Their first assignment (pirated from the old firm): retrieve eloping heiress Penelope Hampton...in competition with their former boss Prentiss. Kildane finds Penelope with surprising ease and keeps her one jump ahead of Prentiss with assorted difficulties, but can he avoid a romantic complication with his lovely charge?

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Plot Keywords:

private eye | heiress | taxi | remake | rivalry | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deadly Enemies

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of It Happened One Night (1934)

User Reviews

Unexpected ending

Kildane (Rod Cameron) and Prentiss (Broderick Crawford) are rival private investigators and both men are separately hired to bring back Mr Hampton's (Samuel S Hinds) daughter. Penelope Hampton (Ella Raines) has disappeared and her father is concerned that she has eloped with a boyfriend. Who can bring back Penelope and claim the $15,000 reward....?

This film is OK but I'm afraid it is nothing more than that. Despite some occasional humorous touches, eg, the way that everyone who works at the hotel has the same ghastly generic way of speaking to guests (very relevant to today's ghastly focus on the "customer experience"), the script doesn't contain enough humour. It's all a bit boring. Rod Cameron is far too smug in the lead role and he reminded me of Randolph Scott (this is not a good thing as he was equally annoyingly smug in his romantic lead roles). The film does have a twist at the end which you won't guess and it leaves you feeling happy. However, the journey there is all a bit of a waste of time. Shame.