This picture is such an oddity it left me scratching my heads for many minutes after I ran it. Okay, it's a Schlom production, so it's from the B unit. Lundigan is certainly a capable lead in these second features but FOLLOW ME QUIETLY required a bit more gravitas for the Lt. I suspect this might originally have been mapped out for Sid Rogell's graduated unit and then sent down the line. The ingenious machinations with the dummy; the anxiety provoked that the Lt. might actually be the killer; and the elaborate location chase all have the earmarks of something that Robert Ryan would have starred in for Rogell and Ted Tetzlaf. Then there's the red herring of Leonid Raab as the credited composer. Paul Sawtell did the action cues and Raab was not on staff at RKO. In fact, he was primarily an orchestrator (long time) for Franz Waxman. I didn't want to run the projector back when I screened my print but I'm pretty sure that Herman Schlom's name was on the cover of the detective magazine they find at Paul Guilfoyle's house (his wife the murder victim). Finally, having Edwin Max turn out to be a rather slovenly killer after he is built up as wily (taking the dummy's place at headquarters) and personable (according to the waitress and landlord), he simply doesn't fit the portrait painted of The Judge. Nor does he seem fanatical as an avenging angel would be. He looks more like a fellow in a perpetual drunken stupor. Where was Paul Stewart when we needed him! Anyway, the whole thing looks like a great kernel of an idea taken in the wrong direction by the wrong personnel. Still, it's unique enough to be enjoyable.
Review of Follow Me Quietly
