Shield for Murder (1954)

When a brutal police detective Lt. murders a bookmaker's runner for $25,000 in cash, a deaf mute sees him do it and now he finds he must kill again to cover his tracks.

Directors:

Howard W. Koch, Edmond O'Brien

Writers:

Richard Alan Simmons (screenplay), John C. Higgins (screenplay)

Stars:

Edmond O'Brien, John Agar, Marla English

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edmond O'Brien	...	Barney Nolan
Marla English	...	Patty Winters
John Agar	...	Mark Brewster
Emile Meyer	...	Capt. Gunnarson
Carolyn Jones	...	Girl at Bar
Claude Akins	...	Fat Michaels
Lawrence Ryle	...	Laddie O'Neil (as Larry Ryle)
Herb Butterfield	...	Cabot (as Herbert Butterfield)
Hugh Sanders	...	Packy Reed
William Schallert	...	Assistant D.A.

Storyline

A vicious cop kills a bookie's runner and steals $25,000 from the corpse. He then frames everyone in sight in order to keep the money to buy a new home for his would-be lounge singer girlfriend.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | rogue cop | witness | police detective | swimming pool | 

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Taglines:

The Story Of A Killer-Cop Who Used His "SHIELD FOR MURDER"

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Stafford Repp.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the film, when the police have been called to the scene of the shooting, a traveling shot of a responding police car shows a black and white car--no lettering saying "Police", or a city logo, or badge, or anything; just a plain black and white four-door sedan. However, when it pulls into the alley next to the crime scene and the driver gets out, the word "POLICE" in large black lettering can be seen on the door.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Capt. Gunnarson: [to police reporter] Write his story good.

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Connections

Referenced in Biography: Carolyn Jones: Morticia and More (2002)

User Reviews

solid b film of not so solid cop

One of those B movies of the fifties, while not great, that is always enjoyable. O'Brien plays detective who is sick of struggling and wants some big dough quick and easy. He murders a stoolie who has $25,000 on him. His longtime partner and friend, Agar, doesn't want to believe his friend could commit such a heinous crime, but all evidence points in that direction. Agar is good as frustrated detective. The funniest scene in the film is Akins pursuing O'Brien through school corridors with his head all bandaged up from blows O'Brien inflicted earlier. Marla English is almost Elizabeth Taylorian in her looks as girlfriend of O'Brien, although I'm not sure what his appeal is.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shield for Murder

Filming Locations:

616 N Doheny Dr, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Camden Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1