Post Office Investigator (1949) Poster

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5/10
What a mess
AAdaSC4 November 2018
The world of stamp collecting provides the setting and some rare stamps are stolen from a private auction and switched for fake copies. The forgery is discovered, no-one is allowed to leave the room and the police are called. However, they find nothing on any of the attendees and everyone is released. Mailman Warren Douglas (Bill) becomes inadvertently mixed up in the deception that has been carried out when he gets fixated on going on a date with secretary Audrey Long (Clara). He is asked to go undercover to unravel the gang responsible.

It's not a bad idea for a film and the story zips along. It never gets dull. It does, however, lose points for being extremely dumb. You will ask yourself what is going on as Audrey Long's character is completely by-passed in the police investigation of the crime. I'm afraid that error makes the whole film daft. And, therefore, not good. Warren Douglas is also a rubbish leading man as his dialogue delivery is monotone and almost depressing to listen to. So, it's a shame, but the film gets half-marks for being poorly thought out. Should have been better.
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5/10
Who Knew Stamp Collecting Was So Thrilling?
boblipton27 February 2024
It's a simple trick to steal some rare stamps at an auction. The girl at the desk, Jeff Donnell, passes them to to Marcel Journet while he writes out a check for another sale, hiding it in his catalogue. He hands it to his mute assistant, Danny Cannon, and then asks Cannon to get him a glass of water. Cannon drops it into an envelope and thence into a mail drop, addressed to Journet. The forgeries ar soon discovered, but Journet has been operating under a fake name and a forged check. But Miss Donnell waits by the mail box and sweet talks post man Warren Douglas into giving her the envelope, promising him a date.

The postal inspectors are sympathetic, but when it's pointed out it's using the mails in a felony, they swing into action by.... telling Douglas he can act as a decoy, which will square the beef.

There are some moments of excitement in this B movie directed by George Blair, mostly caused by Miss Donnell being a headstrong and greedy woman with a gun, but it's B material all the way. With Audrey Long, Richard Benedict, Jimmie Dodd, and Jason Robards Sr.
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8/10
Great Republic Noir
gordonl5612 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The setting is an auction of rare stamps being held in a downtown office building. A trio of less than savory types are among those attending. Audrey Long plays the new secretary of the auctioneer. She is the inside contact. Marcel Journet and Richard Benedict are also crooks and are pretending to be buyers.

The buyers examine the goods as Long slips a $100,000 stamp to Journet. Journet passes back a fake to Long and returns to his seat. The fake is placed into the collection. Journet slips the real stamp to Richard Benedict. Benedict asks the security guard if he could step out for a smoke. Outside, Benedict seals the stolen stamp inside a self-addressed envelope and drops it down the mail chute. Benedict then returns to his seat. The fake is soon discovered and the Police called. They search the patrons. Not finding anything, they release everyone.

Afterwards, Long and her beau Danny Morton meet for a few drinks. They talk about the $5,000 they will get for the job. Morton has an idea on how to cut out Journet and Benedict and keep all the cash.

Next morning Long is waiting beside the pickup box for the mailmen. Enter Warren Douglas and Jimmie Dodd. Long tells them she is in a jam. Long explains that she works in a Law office upstairs. Last night she says, "I put the wrong letter in the wrong envelope and dropped it in the mail." She is sure that her boss will fire her if he finds out. Would it be possible for her to retrieve said letter? She could then fix her mistake and resend it. Dodd is reluctant but Douglas is a sucker for a dolly in distress. Douglas will do it if Long will join Dodd, his girl and himself on a date that evening. She agrees and gives him the address on the letter she wants back. Douglas hands it over and heads back on his run with Dodd.

The Police Lt. in charge of the robbery case, Thomas Browne Henry, decides he has the theft figured. And right he his, a stamp switch and a drop of the swag down the mail chute. He calls on Post Office Inspector Cliff Clark with his theory. Clark calls in Dodd and Douglas and asks for the mailbags from the route. Dodd figures it has something to do with Long, Douglas however says it is just management doing a routine check.

Evening comes and Dodd, his girl Vera Marshe and Douglas swing by the office to pick up Long. Needless to say there is no sign of Long. Douglas does a quick check of the Lawyer's office where Long said she worked. No Long, but there is pretty secretary Jeff Donnell, who is locking up for the night. Douglas talks Donnell into joining the group for a beer. As they drive past Central Park, Douglas remembers the address off the letter. It is just a block away. Douglas suggests they stop and see if Long is there.

Long is indeed at said address. She is asking Journet for her end of the stamp money. Journet says the envelope with the stolen stamp has not arrived yet. When it does, Journet will sell the stamp to a fence and Long will get her cut. There is a knock at the door, which is of course Douglas. Long tells Journet that Douglas is her escort for the night and says goodnight. Douglas figures the date is back on and smiles. Said smile quickly evaporates when Long sticks a large pistol in his ribs and says come with her. Long walks Douglas out of the building, past Dodd, Marshe and Donnell. She points to a waiting car with Morton sitting inside. She shoves Douglas into the car and piles in after him.

Long pokes him with the piece and asks how he found her. "I recalled the address off the letter from when I gave it to you," replies Douglas. Morton and Long have several quick words after which Morton starts the car. A trip to the bottom of the East River seems to be in Douglas's future. Long and Morton do not need someone blabbing about the double cross they pulled on Journet. As he is led to the dockside, Dodd, who has been following Long's car, leans on the horn. Douglas gets in a right cross to Morton and high-tails it to Dodd's car. Once Douglas is inside, off they roar.

They head straight to Investigator Clark's office and come clean about the letter deal. Clark and Police Detective Henry ask Douglas to go undercover. They want him to go see Journet and Benedict and inform on Long. Douglas is to tell Journet and Benedict that Long promised him cash to help with the double cross. Douglas is telling Journet about the deal because Long tried to kill him instead of paying. The details of the double cross must be worth something to Journet. Journet and Benedict are "annoyed" with the info from Douglas.

Phone calls are made, a meeting with all parties at the fence's apartment is arranged. At the fence's, Journet and company quietly wait with drawn revolvers. Long enters the apartment, sees Douglas, as well as Benedict's gun and hands over the stamp. She says it was all a mistake. She then whips her gun out and blasts Journet and Benedict. She grabs up the stamp, the fence's cash and bolts for the door. She leaves lover-boy Morton to duke it out with Douglas over Benedict's pistol. As she exits she is gobbled up by P. O. Investigator Clark and Police Detective Henry. Inside, Douglas has disposed of the swine Morton after a well-staged bout of fist-i-cuffs. Douglas is thanked for his help and goes off to meet Miss Donnell.
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