The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

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:

Smallpox | Doctor | Smuggler | New York | Virus

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 made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Sheila is convinced to go to the clinic, the nurse offers her a glass of water. That would not be done if her temperature had to be taken. It would possibly give a false reading. Plus, any good nurse would have spotted her as "sick" the moment she laid eyes on Sheila.

Quotes:

Mayor: You gentlemen don't seem to realize, we're facing death.

Interesting tale of smallpox carrier

From 1950 comes a neat thriller about a couple smuggling diamonds from abroad and also the contagious disease smallpox. Evelyn Keyes pulls out all stops as the essential victim of this film-noir. Once back in the United States she is not aware that she could be spreading the disease on everyone and everything she comes in contact with. Eventually she is pursued and must be stopped before an epidemic occurs. Other than Keyes striking performance there is good support from villainous Charles Korvin, William Bishop, Dorothy Malone, Lola Albright and Whit Bissell. The finale is a humdinger with Miss Keyes on the ledge of a building with spotlights and hundreds of spectators below. A good B flick!