Red Light (1949)

Nick Cherney, in prison for embezzling from Torno Freight Co., sees a chance to get back at Johnny Torno through his young priest brother Jess. He pays fellow prisoner Rocky, who gets out a... See full summary »

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Don 'Red' Barry (story), George Callahan (screenplay),

Stars:

George Raft, Virginia Mayo, Gene Lockhart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Raft	...	Johnny Torno
Virginia Mayo	...	Carla North
Gene Lockhart	...	Warni Hazard
Raymond Burr	...	Nick Cherney
Harry Morgan	...	Rocky (as Henry Morgan)
Barton MacLane	...	Detective Strecker
Arthur Franz	...	Capt. Jess Torno (Chaplain)
Ken Murray	...	Ken Murray
Stanley Clements	...	Carlson Hotel Bellhop
William Frawley	...	Hotel Night Clerk
Arthur Shields	...	Father Redmond
Frank Orth	...	Wallace 'Wally' Stoner
Phillip Pine	...	Pablo Cabrillo
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Detective Jim Ryan (as William S. Phillips)
Movita	...	Trina (as Movita Castenada)

Storyline

Nick Cherney, in prison for embezzling from Torno Freight Co., sees a chance to get back at Johnny Torno through his young priest brother Jess. He pays fellow prisoner Rocky, who gets out a week before Nick, to murder Jess...who, dying, tells revenge-minded Johnny that he'd written a clue "in the Bible." Frustrated, Johnny obsessively searches for the missing Gideon Bible from Jess's hotel room. Meanwhile, Nick himself gets out with murder still in his heart. But another factor is in play that none of them (except the murdered Jess) had planned on.

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Plot Keywords:

bible | brother | hotel | hotel room | priest | 

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Taglines:

THERE'S TROUBLE AHEAD! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mr. Gideon

Filming Locations:

Carmel Mission, Carmel, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roy Del Ruth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

United Artists 1949 publicity release for newspapers: "The sweaters and skirts Virginia Mayo wears in "Red Light" were all purchased in Paris, when Miss Mayo was there after attending a Command Performace in London. They were designed by the famous French dressmaker, Henri de la Penses."

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Quotes

Carla North: You can't take the law into your own hands! Things aren't done that way!
Johnny Torno: That depends on who's doing them.

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Soundtracks

"Ave Maria"
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

The Light Is Dimmed

Red Light is an independent production released by United Artists and starring George Raft as a man on a mission. Raft plays the self made successful head of a trucking operation who is used to taking care of business himself. But when his younger brother who is a priest and an army chaplain from the late war played by Arthur Franz is shot in a hotel room, Raft is going to deal with killers himself and not let it be handled by the police in the persons of Barton MacLane and Bill Phipps.

Before checking out of this mortal coil, Franz said he wrote something in the hotel Gideon Bible for Raft. But the book from that particular room has been stolen and Raft spends most of the film trying to locate it with the help of Virginia Mayo.

There's not much suspense in this film mainly because Raymond Burr who was a former employee sent to prison for embezzlement is acting so guilty. He does have an ironclad alibi however, but you know it will be broken. Whatever suspense is in the how.

The other suspenseful component of this sub par noir film is what will Raft do when he does learn the truth. What he gets from the bible are some eternal truths, but what he seeks comes out in its own way.

Besides the players mentioned such folks as Gene Lockhart, Stanley Clements, William Frawley, Harry Morgan, and Arthur Shields are all in Red Light. The film had the potential to be a lot more, but Raft just doesn't carry it off right.