Fingerprints Don't Lie (1951)

Director:

Sam Newfield

Writer:

Orville H. Hampton (original screenplay)

Release Date:

23 February 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

HANDS OFF! (original poster)

Plot:

The killing of Mayor Palmer (Forrest Taylor) is being placed on Paul Moody (Richard Emory) by fingerprint...

Plot Keywords:

Investigator | Gambler | Fiancee | Forensic Science | Lawyer

Cast

Richard Travis	...	James Stover
Sheila Ryan	...	Carolyn Palmer
Sid Melton	...	Hypo Dorton
Tom Neal	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Margia Dean	...	Nadine Connell
Lyle Talbot	...	Police Lt. Grayson
Michael Whalen	...	Police Commissioner Frank Kelso
Richard Emory	...	Paul Moody
Dee Tatum	...	Connie Duval
George Eldredge	...	King Sullivan
Rory Mallinson	...	Brad Evans
Karl 'Killer' Davis	...	Rod Barenger (as Karl Davis)
Zon Murray	...	Defense Attorney
Syra Marty	...	Syra, the Blonde Model (as Syra)
Forbes Murray	...	Judge Edwin Monroe

Also Known As:

Fingerprints (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

57 min | USA:26 min (edited version) (TV)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #15042)

Company:

Spartan Productions

Trivia:

Re-titled, and edited down to less than thirty minutes, it was sold to television in the early 1950's as part of a syndicated half hour mystery show.

A sorry little cheapie

This movie was clearly made on a low budget. Its idea of action is having a character open a balsa wood door. Rarely have I seen a movie so obvious in its poverty.

The lot has potential: A fingerprint expert's testimony sends a man to the chair. He is sure of himself and we don't like him. But he is convinced to reconsider and he does so. Indeed, he tries to solve the mystery. He knows he initially made a mistake.

The actors are rather wooden but OK. What really sinks it are the recurring attempts at comic relief: Sid Melton (of whom I have never before heard) keeps turning up. Generally he is an inept photographer.

Not only do his scenes defy logic: The police know he can't handle a camera. They wouldn't let him keep trying to snap photos at crime scenes. Also, though, he simply is not funny. He pushes so hard as to make Abbott and Costello seem like Restoration Comedy.

(He's demanding, too. It seems as if he keeps wanting us to say how adorable he is. As I say, I have never seen or heard of him before this but he is most unappealing here. And I in fact don't find him adorable.)

The studio must have done what it could to get this thing an audience. But they miscalculated. A terrible product, after all, does not lie.