Dead Reckoning (1947)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Gerald Drayson Adams (story) and
Sidney Biddell (story) ...

Release Date:

16 January 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

He Doesn't Trust Anyone . . . especially Women !

Plot:

A soldier runs away rather than receive the Medal of Honor, so his buddy gets permission to investigate, and love and death soon follow.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | WWII | Gambling | Medal Of Honor | Bartender

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Capt. 'Rip' Murdock
Lizabeth Scott	...	'Dusty' Chandler
Morris Carnovsky	...	Martinelli
Charles Cane	...	Lt. Kincaid
William Prince	...	Sgt. Johnny Drake
Marvin Miller	...	Krause
Wallace Ford	...	McGee
James Bell	...	Father Logan
George Chandler	...	Louis Ord

Also Known As:

John Cromwell's Dead Reckoning (UK) (complete title) (USA) (copyright title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1947) | Finland:K-16 (1948) | Norway:16 (1947) | USA:Approved (PCA #11959) | Australia:PG | UK:U | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Penn Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

In the train scene, after they discover that Drake is to receive the Medal of Honor, Murdock quips that maybe the president will let Drake "sit on top of his piano". This is a reference to a then-scandalous photo of Harry Truman playing piano with a leggy blonde on top that was taken at the National Press Club in 1945. The blonde was Lauren Bacall.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In one scene, Martinelli asks Murdock if he's been around, and Murdock says, "East St. Louis is around enough." Several other times, Murdock talks about his pre-war job, owning a string of taxis in St. Louis. East St. Louis and St. Louis are two different cities; East St. Louis is in Illinois, St. Louis in Missouri. Why would Murdock answer that he's "been around" in East St. Louis if his cabs were in St. Louis?

Quotes:

Photographer: Captain Murdock?
Captain Warren 'Rip' Murdock: On the hoof, son.
Photographer: The camera boys'd like to get a couple of shots of you and Sergeant Drake. Could you come out on the platform? You only stop here for five minutes.
Captain Warren 'Rip' Murdock: This is the City of Brotherly Love?
Photographer: That's what New Yorkers call it. They don't live here.
Captain Warren 'Rip' Murdock: I'm all for love, son.

Movie Connections:

References To Have and Have Not (1944)

Soundtrack:

EITHER IT'S LOVE OR IT ISN'T

Good Start & Finish But Uninvolving Overall

The bulk of this film, the middle of it, was just too slow for me, hence the so-so rating. The beginning and endings were very good, especially several scenes in the final half hour. There were several twists concerning Lizabeth Scott's character that kept you guessing.

There were other things going for this film, such as Humphrey Bogart's narration. He had a lot of good lines in here, either narrating or talking to others. He and Scott were the stars but some of the supporting players also were great, such as Morris Carnovsky as the tough-guy aide, "Martinelli. " Also, they may not be big names but Charles Cane, William Prince, Marin Miller, Wallace Ford and James Bell all added nice performance here.

Yet, with all this going for it, I didn't find the film as involving as it should have been. Perhaps another look someone will change my mind.