6.5/10
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23 user 7 critic

Red Light (1949)

Passed | | Crime , Drama , Film-Noir | 30 September 1949 (USA)
Red Light Poster
The former employee of a trucking company, currently in prison for embezzling the company, plans his eventual revenge against his former boss.

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Don 'Red' Barry (story "This Guy Gideon") (as Donald Barry), George Callahan (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

George Raft, Virginia Mayo, Gene Lockhart | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Raft ... John Torno
Virginia Mayo ... Carla North
Gene Lockhart ... Warni Hazard
Raymond Burr ... Nick Cherney
Harry Morgan ... Rocky (as Henry Morgan)
Barton MacLane ... Strecker
Arthur Franz ... Jess Torno
Ken Murray ... Ken Murray
Stanley Clements ... Bellboy
William Frawley ... Hotel Clerk
Arthur Shields ... Father Redmond
Frank Orth ... Stoner
Phillip Pine ... Pablo Cabrillo
William 'Bill' Phillips William 'Bill' Phillips ... Ryan (as Wm. S. Phillips)
See full cast »
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Storyline

Nick Cherney, in prison for embezzling from Torno Freight Co., sees a chance to get back at John Torno through his young priest brother Jess. He pays fellow prisoner Rocky, who gets out a week before Nick, to murder Jess...who, dying, tells revenge-minded John that he'd written a clue "in the Bible." Frustrated, John obsessively searches for the missing Gideon Bible from Jess's hotel room. Meanwhile, Nick himself gets out with murder still in his heart. But another factor is in play that none of them (except the murdered Jess) had planned on. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

bible | brother | hotel | hotel room | prison | See All (50) »

Taglines:

THERE'S TROUBLE AHEAD! (original poster - all caps) See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Certificate:

Passed | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 1949 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Mr. Gideon See more »

Filming Locations:

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco Bay, California, USA See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roy Del Ruth Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The passage from the Bible read to Pablo in the hotel room is from Isaiah 42:16. See more »

Goofs

When Det. Strecker pulls up at the trucking terminal to see Johnny (about 1 hour into the film), a clear reflection of the boom microphone is visible in the police car's windshield. See more »

Quotes

Foreword: This is the story of one of the most unusual cases in the criminal records of San Francisco. The criminal, a cruel sadistic killer, was never apprehended, judged or convicted by the law - yet on the books the case is marked "closed," to which someone has added the words "Man Proposes and God Disposes." A prison is a place where crime usually ends, but in our story this is where it began...
See more »

Crazy Credits

During the closing scene a neon sign reads "24 HOUR SERVICE". When the film ends another neon sign lights up with "THE END" below it. See more »

Soundtracks

Ave Maria
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Schubert
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Mystifying title for a revenge crime melodrama featuring George Raft and The Bible...
30 November 2012 | by Doylenf – See all my reviews

With so much of this gangster melodrama revolving around the Gideon Bible holding the clue to the murderer, it's no wonder that Dimktri Tiomkin plays up the pious "Ave Maria" every time any mention of "the clue" is made. George Raft's monotone voice and intense expression never changes much throughout, but he's convincing as a man on a mission to find and kill his brother's murderer.

Along the way, he enlists the aid of the lovely Virginia Mayo, who helps him track down the killer while reminding him that his brother was strictly a "Thou shalt not kill" sort of Army Chaplain. Thus, the grim ending for the killer comes not from Raft but providence when he's disposed of quite dramatically.

Raymond Burr plays the "heavy," a sadistic thug who seems to enjoy every kill, even if it means pushing a man off a train or having a truck falling on top of a man in hiding. A good cast, including Arthur Franz as Raft's brother, Gene Lockhart, Harry Morgan, Barton MacLane, Ken Murray, William Frawley and Arthur Shields. Virginia Mayo gives an excellent performance as the gutsy gal who helps Raft in his quest to find a killer.

Trivia: Interesting to note that most of the supporting cast would go on to TV fame in an era when that medium was just starting to give film players some iconic breaks.

Summing up: Good revenge melodrama with film noir touches.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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