Who Killed Gail Preston?

Rita plays Gail Preston and gets her name on the first card, which counts as starring in this Columbia murder mystery. She also gets killed quickly enough that her dialogue don't foul up the effort. She's still learning how to read a line interestingly.

Not that anyone stands out as particularly good one-hour B movie. It's a mystery and soon enough Don Terry is investigating the matter, with plenty of red herrings thrown across the path. It's competent, but filled with old-fashioned stereotypes, uninspired wisecracking, and cheap interior sets.

This wasn't one of Coumbia's occasional A production in this era -- still produced on a budget that MGM might use for a short subject. Studio president Harry Cohn once said "I want one good picture a year, and I won't let an exhibitor have it unless he takes the bread-and-butter product." This was Cohn's bread-and-butter and there isn't much butter on in. Rita Hayworth's career would flourish, but no one else's.... except Cohn's.