Destination Murder (1950)

Laura Mansfield's father is killed, apparently by a telegraphic messenger. She spots Jackie Wales in a police lineup, but can't identify him positively. Later, she arranges to meet him, and... See full summary »

Director:

Edward L. Cahn

Writer:

Don Martin (original screenplay)

Stars:

Joyce Mackenzie, Stanley Clements, Hurd Hatfield

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joyce Mackenzie	...	Laura Mansfield (as Joyce MacKenzie)
Stanley Clements	...	Jackie Wales
Hurd Hatfield	...	Stretch Norton
Albert Dekker	...	Armitage
Myrna Dell	...	Alice Wentworth
James Flavin	...	Police Lt. Brewster
John Dehner	...	Frank Niles
Richard Emory	...	Police Sgt. Mulcahy
Norma Vance	...	Fran, Inebriated Lady
Suzette Harbin	...	Harriett, Nightclub Maid
Buddy Swan	...	Arthur - Blue Streak Messenger
Bert Wenland	...	Dave, Blue Streak Messenger
Franklyn Farnum	...	Arthur Mansfield, Laura's Father
Steve Gibson	...	Leader of Redcap Singing Group
Steve Gibson's Redcaps	...	Singing Group

Storyline

Laura Mansfield's father is killed, apparently by a telegraphic messenger. She spots Jackie Wales in a police lineup, but can't identify him positively. Later, she arranges to meet him, and is convinced he was the killer, but he was acting for someone else. She gets to know Jackie to find out who the boss is, taking a job in the Vogue Club, owned by a man named Armitage. Meanwhile, Alice, Armitage's greedy mistress, goes after Jackie and lures him into blackmailing the nightclub owner. Armitage discovers the betrayal, and kills the two, but Laura schemes to get closer so she can prove him guilty.

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Plot Keywords:

killer | nightclub | messenger | gang leader | investigation | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 1950 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward L. Cahn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In this 1950 movie, a behind-the-times movie theater is showing Flight Lieutenant and Corregidor. Posters seen outside the theater include Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Germany Year Zero (Germany: Year Zero).

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Goofs

When Alice and Laura are talking in the Ladies' Room, the position of Laura's cigarette tray changes depending upon whether the shot is of the reflection in the mirror or is from the other side of the room.

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Connections

Features Corregidor (1943)

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Soundtracks

"Palace Of Stone"
Written by James Springs
Performed by Steve Gibson and Steve Gibson's Redcaps

User Reviews

Armitage Needs an Overhaul

The film carries the RKO banner, but it's not an RKO production. That studio's great production unit knew how to make noirs. This independent production released by RKO apparently knows little. The film is almost a complete misfire from muddled script, to lackluster direction, to absent style, to the waste of Albert Dekker, Hurd Hatfield, and John Dehner. In fact, the ordinarily competent James Flavin almost sounds like he's doing his cop dialogue by the numbers. Please, if you can make sense of the story line, there's a place for you in the MIT physics department, (did writer Martin forget what he had written from one day to the next). And who in the heck held the gun to Dekker's head in such an embarrassing piece of Jekyll and Hyde that it's likely the low point of his career. Add to that the staging of a final scene so clumsily done, it parodies the real thing. Yes, there are some novel ideas trying to survive, (just what is the relationship between Armitage and Stretch). But unfortunately they're buried in a tangle of half-ideas, never to see the light of day. I have the utmost respect for RKO's great noir tradition. But releasing this misbegotten indie could have threatened the whole concept. The only good thing is the really smooth jazz combo who should have gotten the entire 70 minutes instead of just five.