Double Jeopardy (1955)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

R.G. Springsteen

Writer:

Don Martin (written by)

Release Date:

23 June 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime

Tagline:

A Dealy Formula For Murder! (original poster)

Plot:

Lawyer Marc Hill helps clear the name of his girlfriends father who is accused of murdering a man that was blackmailing him.

Plot Keywords:

Investigation | Prison | Attorney | Partner | Killing

Cast

Rod Cameron	...	Marc Hill
Gale Robbins	...	Marge Baggott
Allison Hayes	...	Barbara Devery
Jack Kelly	...	Jeff Calder
John Litel	...	Emmett Devery
Robert Armstrong	...	Sam Baggott
John Gallaudet	...	Police Lt. Freid
Minerva Urecal	...	Mrs. Kreesy
Tom Powers	...	Harry Sheldon
Dick Elliott	...	Happy Harry
Robert Shayne	...	Mr. Ross
Bob Nelson	...	Police Sgt. McNulty
Fern Hall	...	Miss Webster
Rudy Robles	...	Frank - Henchman

Also Known As:

Crooked Ring (UK)
The Crooked Ring (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:K-12

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Filming began on March 3, 1955.

B-movie stalwarts help redeem overlooked, low-budget late noir

Double Jeopardy is a Republic crime drama that seldom makes even the most inclusive lists of film noir, even though, in all its grunginess, it's a little better than many that do make the cut. Its director, R. G. Springsteen, churned out umpteen dozen forgotten horse operas (and his most notorious credit was The Red Menace). That doesn't inspire confidence, but he does more than a passable job on a passable story.

`Stumblebum' Robert Armstrong hasn't worked for years, but manages keep himself in whiskey and occasionally to pay rent on the one-room flat he and his unfaithful wife (Gale Robbins) share with the $500 bucks he gets every month from a mysterious stranger. Meanwhile, on the much better side of the tracks, the stranger (John Litel) is putting together the financing for a new housing development but, to the bafflement of his lawyer and future son-in-law (Rod Cameron), won't consider low-interest government loans.

Their two worlds, existing in uneasy truce, collide when Robbins, conspiring with her used-car-salesman lover (Jeff Calder), goads Armstrong into strong-arming Litel for a big payoff (when he gets it, the adulterous couple plan run off to Mexico together). But in the deserted canyon where blackmailer and victim had their rendezvous, Armstrong's body is found inside a wrecked car; Litel is charged with his murder. Cameron starts sniffing around to find the truth in what the police think is an open-and-shut case.

There's a fair amount of crummy atmosphere in this low-rent, late noir, abetted by a seasoned cast of Hollywood B-movie veterans (Minerva Urecal as a meddlesome landlady and Dick Elliott as Calder's boss Happy Harry also appear). It's no Double Indemnity, but it passes the time.