Jigsaw (1949)New York Assistant District Attorney Howard Malloy investigates a series of murders and uncovers an extremist group. Director:Fletcher Markle |
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Jigsaw (1949)New York Assistant District Attorney Howard Malloy investigates a series of murders and uncovers an extremist group. Director:Fletcher Markle |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Franchot Tone | ... |
Howard Malloy
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| Jean Wallace | ... |
Barbara Whitfield
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Myron McCormick | ... |
Charles Riggs
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| Marc Lawrence | ... |
Angelo Agostini
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Winifred Lenihan | ... |
Mrs. Hartley
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Doe Avedon | ... |
Caroline Riggs
(as Betty Harper)
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Hedley Rainnie | ... |
Sigmund Kosterich
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Walter Vaughan | ... |
District Attorney Walker
(as Walter Vaughn)
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George Breen | ... |
Knuckles
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Robert Gist | ... |
Tommy Quigley
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Hester Sondergaard | ... |
Mrs. Borg
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Luella Gear | ... |
Pet Shop Owner
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Alexander Campbell | ... |
Pemberton
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Robert Noe | ... |
Waldron
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Alexander Lockwood | ... |
Nichols
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When the owner of a printing shop is found dead, the District Attorney assumes that it was a suicide. But the Assistant D.A., Howard Malloy, suspects that there is a connection with an extremist political group called the 'Crusaders'. When a journalist whose articles had attacked the Crusaders is also killed, Malloy is convinced. With help from the widow of a prominent judge, he conducts an investigation. As he does so, he meets a peculiar political boss and also an attractive night club singer, each of whom could become either a source of help or a source of danger. Written by Snow Leopard
This 1949 film is interesting on several accounts. First off the movie appears to have been shot primarily on location in New York in the late 1940s. It appears to be the Brooklyn Museum where the finale of the movie takes place.
Franchot Tone plays the lead detective, and Jean Wallace plays a nightclub performer. Tone and Wallace were married at the time of this film, and would make other films together. This is still a few years away from the 1951 love triangle between Franchot Tone, Barbara Payton and Tom Neal, in which Tone was beaten to a pulp by Neal. In the aftermath of that event, Jean Wallace stabbed herself in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Her and Tone had two children and the public humiliation of Tone and Paytons affair pushed her over the edge. Wallace herself was arrested numerous times in the 50s for drunken behavior.
This film appears to be a social commentary on communism. Though communists are never mentioned, the secret organization bears all the marks of a communist party. Several actors in the film, as well as some who simply had walk ons appear in the film, perhaps as a way of showing how they feel about communism. John Garfield, Marsha Hunt, Marc Lawrence all who were publicly involved in the witch hunts that occured in the late 40s and early 50s appear in this film. Other stars who have minor roles include Burgess Meredith, Marlene Dietrich and Henry Fonda. In the nightclub scene, look in the background for debutante Brenda Frazier, a kind of Paris Hilton of her day.