File this one under "Standard police procedural slash noir". Cinematography and direction needed to be much moodier and LA location shooting, which is such an essential ingredient of this genre, was uninspired. However, my biggest problem with this film lies with the screenplay by Casey Robinson, of "Dark Victory" and "Now Voyager" fame. Perhaps in an effort to show that he was more than just Bette Davis' favorite chick flic scribe and could handle the world weary, sardonic demands of noir writing he goes overboard with his dialogue, giving all the main characters and several of the minor ones copious amounts of quips, wisecracks, put downs and zingers. And while many of his lines are amusing and a few even interestingly quirky the dialogue tends to smother the movie, taking away from tension and draining it of drama. If it weren't for good acting, pretty much up and down the cast, and especially from Gloria DeHaven, John McIntyre and ageless Norman Lloyd (you know I know you know this guy was a delight into his hundreds) this film would be utter dreck. C plus.
Review of Scene of the Crime
