The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950)

A veteran homicide detective who has witnessed his socialite girlfriend kill her husband sees his inexperienced brother assigned to the case.

Director:

Felix E. Feist

Writers:

Seton I. Miller (screenplay), Philip MacDonald (screenplay)

Stars:

Lee J. Cobb, Jane Wyatt, John Dall

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee J. Cobb	...	Lt. Ed Cullen
Jane Wyatt	...	Lois Frazer
John Dall	...	Andy Cullen
Lisa Howard	...	Janet Cullen
Harlan Warde	...	Howard Frazer
Tito Vuolo	...	Pietro Capa
Charles Arnt	...	Ernest Quimby (as Charles E. Arnt)
Marjorie Bennett	...	Muriel Quimby
Alan Wells	...	Nito Capa
Mimi Aguglia	...	Mrs. Capa
Bud Wolfe	...	Officer Blair
Morgan Farley	...	Rushton
Howard Negley	...	Detective Olson
William Gould	...	Doc Munson
Art Millan	...	United Airlines Clerk

Storyline

Rich Lois Frazer, divorcing her fortune-hunter husband, finds he's bought a gun. Suspecting he plans to kill her, she calls in her lover, who just happens to be Homicide Lieutenant Ed Cullen. When Ed arrives, the gun gets used...and because of his relationship with Lois, Ed is compelled to compound a felony. The good news: Ed himself is assigned to the case. The bad news: Ed's hotshot younger brother Andy, a new- minted detective, is also on the case...and anxious to prove himself.

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Plot Keywords:

eye witness | san francisco california | golden gate bridge | fort point san francisco california | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

... the predictable way of a man's love for an evil woman !

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

26 December 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Gun

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jack M. Warner Productions,Phoenix Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jack M. Warner believed Lee J. Cobb would be able to carry off the romantic, leading man role, as he was just coming off one of the most celebrated runs on Broadway as Willie Loman, in Death of a Sakesman....Warner believed this was a casting coup that would translate into "big box office"....it didn't.

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Goofs

When Janet stops Ed on the street, a reflection of a wavering boom microphone is visible on the hood of Ed's car.

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Quotes

Andy Cullen: [trying to understand his brother's involvement in the killing] Why? Why?
Police Lt. Ed Cullen: You said it once, "Under the skin."

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Connections

Referenced in You Bet Your Life: Episode #8.2 (1957)

User Reviews

Medium noir

Fairly good noir movie is mainly carried on Lee J. Cobb's ample shoulders. His physique and gruff attitude are tailor-made for the genre. Unfortunately Jane Wyatt doesn't quite cut it as the requisite femme fatale for which he sacrifices his career. Since this is a dramatically vital plot point it weakens the entire movie. Mary Astor would have played this to perfection. It also contains too many sluggish scenes that either slow down the pace or lead nowhere. And the end is anticlimactic to say the least. On the plus side the movie has the right noir feel, although it lacks the necessary suspense and mental anguish to be truly gripping. Also both Cobb and Dall are fine as the two cop brothers. Noir fans should certainly check this one out, flawed as it is.