The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)

Director:

Earl McEvoy

Writers:

Milton Lehman (Colliers Magazine article)
Harry Essex (adaptation)

Release Date:

1 December 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Plot:

Police seek a smuggler while doctors, unaware she's the same person, desperately comb unprotected New York for a smallpox carrier.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Smallpox | Smuggler | Virus | New York

Cast

Evelyn Keyes	...	Sheila Bennet
Charles Korvin	...	Matt Krane
William Bishop	...	Dr. Ben Wood
Dorothy Malone	...	Alice Lorie
Lola Albright	...	Francie Bennet
Barry Kelley	...	Treasury Agent Johnson
Carl Benton Reid	...	Health Commissioner Ellis
Ludwig Donath	...	Dr. Cooper
Art Smith	...	Anthony Moss
Whit Bissell	...	Sid Bennet
Roy Roberts	...	Mayor of New York
Connie Gilchrist	...	Belle - the Landlady
Dan Riss	...	Skrip
Harry Shannon	...	Police Officer Houlihan

Also Known As:

Frightened City (Philippines: English title) (UK) (USA) (copyright title)

Runtime:

USA:79 min | USA:76 min (Encore-Mystery Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #14252) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Robert Cohn Productions

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Although the story takes place in New York City, where much of it was filmed, the finale was photographed in the 300 block of South Broadway, Los Angeles, easily identified by the flashing neon marquees of the Central and Cozy Theatres which were located there.

Quotes:

Narrator: Dr. Wood was right when he said there was a drive in that girl.

One of the Best Noirs Available

This is a really dark movie. Noir indeed. The title character is smallpox, brought into New York City unknowingly by Evelyn Keyes.

She is on one mission when she arrives and on a rougher one after she's spoken to her no longer innocent sister. But she herself is not intentionally a killer. This doesn't mean she doesn't kill. It doesn't mean her presence somewhere among eight million other people doesn't throw the city into turmoil.

Keyes is excellent. The supporting cast is very good too. There are several little-known people involved in this -- the director included. Don't be put off. It is a movie to be reckoned with! (And how nice to see a Columbia picture. Columbia and Republic turned out wonderful comedies and noirs; yet we hardly ever see them anymore.)