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The Notorious Mr. Monks

  • 19581958
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Don Kelly and Vera Ralston in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
  • Drama
In Central California, hitchhiker Dan Flynn comes across drunken Ben Monks, passed out at the wheel of his parked car. While Dan is combing through Ben's wallet to locate his address, Chip K... Read allIn Central California, hitchhiker Dan Flynn comes across drunken Ben Monks, passed out at the wheel of his parked car. While Dan is combing through Ben's wallet to locate his address, Chip Klamp drives by and, after accusing Dan of planning to rob Ben, proclaims that Ben is "a ba... Read allIn Central California, hitchhiker Dan Flynn comes across drunken Ben Monks, passed out at the wheel of his parked car. While Dan is combing through Ben's wallet to locate his address, Chip Klamp drives by and, after accusing Dan of planning to rob Ben, proclaims that Ben is "a bad man" and drives away. Dan drives Ben home, where Ben's wife Angela invites him in. Angie... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph Kane
  • Writers
    • Paul Fix(story)
    • Richard C. Sarafian
  • Stars
    • Vera Ralston
    • Don Kelly
    • Paul Fix
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joseph Kane
  • Writers
    • Paul Fix(story)
    • Richard C. Sarafian
  • Stars
    • Vera Ralston
    • Don Kelly
    • Paul Fix
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

    Leo Gordon and Vera Ralston in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
    Paul Fix and Don Kelly in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
    Paul Fix and Don Kelly in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
    Don Kelly and Vera Ralston in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
    Don Kelly in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
    Don Kelly and Vera Ralston in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)
    Luana Anders, Paul Fix, Leo Gordon, Don Kelly, and Vera Ralston in The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vera Ralston
    Vera Ralston
    • Angela Monksas Angela Monks
    Don Kelly
    Don Kelly
    • Dan Flynnas Dan Flynn
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Benjamin Monksas Benjamin Monks
    Leo Gordon
    Leo Gordon
    • Chip Klampas Chip Klamp
    Luana Anders
    Luana Anders
    • Gilda Hadleyas Gilda Hadley
    Tom Brown
    Tom Brown
    • Payson - Defense Attorneyas Payson - Defense Attorney
    Lyle Talbot
    Lyle Talbot
    • Leonardo - Prosecuting Attorneyas Leonardo - Prosecuting Attorney
    Emory Parnell
    Emory Parnell
    • Sheriff Cobus Andersas Sheriff Cobus Anders
    Fuzzy Knight
    Fuzzy Knight
    • Tomas Tom
    Hank Worden
    Hank Worden
    • Peteas Pete
    Grandon Rhodes
    Grandon Rhodes
    • Mr. Hadleyas Mr. Hadley
    Wheaton Chambers
    • Coroneras Coroner
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Hack
    Herman Hack
    • Court Extraas Court Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Rory Mallinson
    Rory Mallinson
    • Veterinarianas Veterinarian
    • (uncredited)
    Jason Robards Sr.
    Jason Robards Sr.
    • Judgeas Judge
    • (uncredited)
    Olan Soule
    Olan Soule
    • Court Clerkas Court Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Herb Vigran
    Herb Vigran
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joseph Kane
    • Writers
      • Paul Fix(story)
      • Richard C. Sarafian
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In Central California, hitchhiker Dan Flynn comes across drunken Ben Monks, passed out at the wheel of his parked car. While Dan is combing through Ben's wallet to locate his address, Chip Klamp drives by and, after accusing Dan of planning to rob Ben, proclaims that Ben is "a bad man" and drives away. Dan drives Ben home, where Ben's wife Angela invites him in. Angie, who married the much older Ben because he promised her there was millions of dollars worth of oil on his farm, has grown weary of his alcoholism and abusiveness. Attracted to Dan, she offers him a job on the farm, and with no other prospects, he accepts. In the morning, Ben gruffly negotiates a low wage for Dan, and over the next days pushes him to work long hours. One night, after Angie informs Dan about the oil, he is about to kiss her when Ben drives up. Two weeks go by during which Dan chafes under Ben's ill-treatment. One afternoon, upon seeing Ben whipping his overburdened horse, Dan tries to intercede and when Ben snaps the whip on Dan's back, Dan punches him. Back at the house, Angie defends Ben as a sad old man, after which Dan lashes out at her. When he apologizes, she begs him to stay. Later, Chip, who used to date Angie, informs her that he has had his neighboring land surveyed and discovered there is no oil, then tells Ben that Angie is having an affair with Dan. A drunken Ben drives home without realizing that young runaway Gilda Hadley is hiding in his back seat. At the farm, when Ben accuses Angie of cheating, she retorts that he lied about the oil and calls him old, prompting him to hit her, after which he pleads with her not to leave him. Ben retreats to the barn, where he finds Gilda and agrees to hide her in the loft. Just then, Dan arrives with the veterinarian, hoping to save Ben's ailing horse, but they are too late. Ben throws a bottle at Dan, who attacks him, but their fight is cut short by the entrance of the sheriff, who is searching for Gilda. Despite the sheriff's offer to share the reward offered by her wealthy father, Ben declares that he has not seen the girl. Meanwhile, Angie visits Dan as he packs to leave. Assuming she told Ben that they were lovers, Dan rejects her advances, then returns to the barn to demand his pay from Ben. Finding Ben on the ground, Dan assumes he is passed out and takes his car, not knowing that Gilda is again hiding in it. On the road, Gilda tells Dan that she is running away from her boyfriend, and that she dropped her locket in the Monkses' barn. Chip sees Ben's car pass and heads to the barn, where the sheriff has found Ben, dead from a head wound. Upon spotting the locket on the ground, Chip pockets it surreptitiously. That night, Gilda admits to Dan that she is fleeing to protest her father's remarriage, two years after her mother's death. Although she tries to seduce Dan, he firmly rebuffs the teenager, instead offering to help her return home. As soon as they stop, however, Dan is spotted by the police and arrested for Ben's murder. At the trial, Angie vouches for Dan's trustworthiness but her testimony about his fights with Ben damage Dan's case. With strong circumstantial evidence against Dan, who was the last to see Ben alive, his only hope lies in locating Gilda, who was watching from the loft and so may have seen the real killer. His lawyer is granted three days to find her, and while they wait, Chip visits Angie to demand her attentions. She throws him out, and after he drops his wallet, she discovers the locket inside and brings it to Dan's lawyer. Soon after, Gilda turns herself in and takes the witness stand, where she recounts what happened the night Ben died: After the other men leave, Ben climbs into the loft and tries to assault Gilda. In self-defense, she pushes him to the ground, and thinking he is merely unconscious, flees to his car. After exhibiting Gilda's locket as evidence of her presence in the barn, Dan's lawyer asks for more time to uncover the murder weapon, and soon a bloody anvil is found buried in the hay in the barn. The judge rules that the death occurred accidentally when Ben fell from the loft and hit his head on the anvil, and Dan is freed. As Chip is brought before the judge to be punished for withholding evidence, Gilda's father offers Dan a job in Los Angeles and Gilda hugs Dan goodbye. As he is leaving, Dan hears his lawyer thank Angie for her help, and he tells her she is a "swell gal." Although Angie is in love with Dan, she bravely bids him goodbye.
    • character name as title
    • nickname as title
    • four word title
    • Add full plot
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A Man Who Fought and Murdered...For a Woman He Couldn't Possess!
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Somewhat interesting noir
    Not completely successful, but OK noir melodrama. When drifter Don Kelly brings home drunk Paul Fix to his farm and gets him inside, he gets caught up with the old man's much younger wife, Vera Ralston. Sexual tensions ensue and it looks like it's going to be a low budget POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, but then it veers off into semi-preposterous territory with the arrival of runaway nymphet Luana Anders. Still, all the actors work hard (though Ralston was never much of an actress) and veteran director Joe Kane moves it along fast and makes every scene seem assured and real. Worth seeing, even if it's no lost classic. Ralston retired from films soon after this one.
    helpful•4
    0
    • dcole-2
    • May 28, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 28, 1958 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Searching Wind
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Ventura Pictures Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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