A Blueprint for Murder (1953)

Whitney Cameron suspects his sister-in-law has poisoned his brother and niece, but without proof how does he prevent the murder of his nephew?

Director:

Andrew L. Stone

Writer:

Andrew L. Stone

Stars:

Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Gary Merrill

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joseph Cotten	...	Whitney 'Cam' Cameron
Jean Peters	...	Lynn Cameron
Gary Merrill	...	Fred Sargent
Catherine McLeod	...	Maggie Sargent
Jack Kruschen	...	Det.ective Lt. Harold Y. Cole
Barney Phillips	...	Detective Capt. Pringle
Freddy Ridgeway	...	Doug Cameron

Storyline

Two orphans, Polly and Doug, live with their stepmother Lynne; Polly collapses with the same mystery symptoms that killed her father. The kids' visiting uncle, Whitney Cameron, is warned that the symptoms match strychnine poisoning, but that poisoners are seldom detected and rarely convicted. Sure enough, no case can be made against the obvious suspect; so what can Whitney do to save the next victim?

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Plot Keywords:

poisoning | strychnine | circumstantial evidence | suspicion | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

Was she liquid fire or congealed ice?

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Genres:

Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Assassinio premeditato

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ship at sea is the same miniature model used for for Titanic, which in turn was used for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Dangerous Crossing.

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Goofs

As an autopsy shows that Cam's brother had no strychnine in his body, it is not explained why he exhibited the exact same symptoms as his poisoned daughter.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Whitney 'Cam' Cameron: Where is Polly Cameron's room?

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Connections

Featured in Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Nocturne op. 9 no.1 in B-flat minor"
Written by Chopin
(Uncredited)

User Reviews

Fifty Years Ahead Of Today's Headlines

The notion of a woman's poisoning not only her husband but also two children must have been shocking in 1953. Today it is all too commonplace.

Did Jean Peters do this or did she not: That is the subject of this very exciting movie. Joseph Cotten is Peters's brother-in-law. He gives a cool, calm performance, those this grand Hollywood diction is annoying. (This was by no means limited to him. Few big stars escaped it when the big studios ruled.) Peters is very good, also, as is the supporting cast.

In a way this is a companion piece to "Dangerous Crossing." It too takes place, in good part, on an ocean liner. They are equally exciting, though the premise of this is uniquely shocking. This has the punch of such Jacobean tragedy as "The Duchess of Malfi."