Scandal Sheet (1952)

The editor of an exploitation newspaper commits a murder and assigns his protégé to investigate hoping to divert attention away from himself.

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (screen play), Eugene Ling (screen play)

Stars:

John Derek, Donna Reed, Broderick Crawford

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Broderick Crawford	...	Mark Chapman
Donna Reed	...	Julie Allison
John Derek	...	Steve McCleary
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Charlotte Grant
Henry O'Neill	...	Charlie Barnes
Harry Morgan	...	Biddle (as Henry Morgan)
James Millican	...	Police Lt. Davis
Griff Barnett	...	Judge Elroy Hacker
Jonathan Hale	...	Frank Madison

Storyline

The editor of a New York exploitation newspaper meets the wife he had abandoned years ago, while using another name, at a Lonely Hearts ball sponsored by his newspaper. She threatens to expose him as a wife-deserter, wife-beater and an impostor, and, in anger, he pushes her and accidentally kills her. Later, when her body is found, he assigns his protégé reporter to the story, as a good, exploitable follow-up story to the ball. And, then, he is forced to sit back and watch while the reporter slowly tracks down the killer.

---

Plot Keywords:

taming of the shrew | dysfunctional marriage | manipulative female | manipulative wife | mother daughter relationship | 

---

Taglines:

Love Nesters! Shock Slayers! Sensation Seekers!

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Romance | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The working title of the film was The Dark Page, same as the source novel.

---

Goofs

The door in Broderick Crawford's office apparently has no glass in its window. (This was presumably to prevent reflections from lights or equipment.)

---

Quotes

Mark Chapman: Get her ready. We've got to be at the ballroom at eight. There's no time for nose powder.

---

Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown on the page of a newspaper. Although the credits change, the surrounding text remains the same, from start to finish.

---

Connections

Referenced in Crime Wave (1985)

---

Soundtracks

I'll Take Romance
(1937)
Music by Ben Oakland
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Played by orchestra at Lonely Hearts dance.

User Reviews

Excellent Seldom seen Film Noir...

Broderick Crawford stars in this exciting film noir from 1952..Fast paced & keeps viewer in suspense till the end..Excellent cast, including Crawford, handsome John Derek, intelligent beautiful, Donna Reed.and Harry Morgan..However..ROSEMARY DeCAMP, is outstanding in her brief but important scenes.. This is unlike her other screen work..Rosemary ,for me, steals the show!.Worth seeing ..Thanks again to TCM for showing this today on Broderick Crawfords day a fine, underrated actor . I started watching @ 20 minutes after film began ( I don't usually do this)and I was "hooked" as I saw Rosemary DeCamps close up at rally for "forlorn lovers" DeCamp recognizes Crawford ,her former husband, who has now changed his name and persona.. I stopped everything and could not stop watching till the end I wont tell you what happens.I hope TCM shows again soon so I can view the scenes I missed at the beginning

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Dark Page

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1