SCENE OF THE CRIME
US, 1949, 94 minutes. Black and white.
Van Johnson, Arlene Dahl, Gloria De Haven, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, John Mc Intire, Donald Woods, Norman Lloyd, Jerome Cowan, Richard Benedict.
Directed by Roy Rowland.
Scene of the Crime offered a change of pace for Van Johnson after his musicals and comedies. Here he portrays a tough detective in Los Angeles. A friend is murdered, framed as if he was corrupt. This raises Johnson’s ire and he decides to pursue the case vigorously. As with many police films, his wife, played by Arlene Dahl, is always wary about the dangers for him as he goes out on his work. Tom Drake portrays the rookie partner, Leon Ames his boss, John Mc Intire his veteran associate and instructor. There is an eccentric performance by Norman Lloyd (later the headmaster in Dead Poets Society). The are a number of character actors in support, playing gangster roles. Gloria De Haven is a singer – and turns out to be a ruthless femme fatale.
The film has echoes of the police investigation films of the period with the touch of the film noir.
1. The title? Expectations? Crime, investigations?
2. MGM production, black and white photography, the film noir look, the night and shadows? The contrast with domestic life and life on the beat and in the world of the detective? The musical score? Songs?
3. Mike Conovan – Van Johnson as a detective? His relationship with Gloria, love for her? His wariness, her concern about his safety, her deciding to move away for a time? The domestic background of his investigations? The encounter with Lili, the attraction? Her seductive power? His becoming disillusioned with her? His going to the airport to stop Gloria going home – and her waiting for him? His coming to the scene of the crime, his reaction to the framing of the dead man? The young couple and the evidence and witness? The proprietor of the betting shop? The background of the takeover of illegal betting in the city? Gangsters and their control? His work with Fred Piper, being instructed by him, relying on him – and the upset at his death? With Captain Forster, Forster playing him to get him motivated to pull all the stops out for the investigation? His participating in the final confrontation? C.C., the rookie, learning on the job, listening to Piper, listening to Mike? His involvement in the investigation? The range of police? Scenes at headquarters, Mike and his gallery – especially photos of those who were murdered?
4. The murder, the murderer, the splotched face, the withered hand? People being able to identify him? Mike and the contacts, the snitches? Sleeper and the contacts with Mike, getting the information, shrewd, eccentric? His death?
5. Turk Kingby, his role with the betting organisation? His relationship with Lili? His final arrest? The fact that he disguised himself and was the murderer? Lili and his disregard for her? His being wounded, his death?
6. Arthur Webson, control? His henchmen? The range of gangsters? The role of illegal betting? Ruthlessness?
7. Lili, her singing, her personality, her charm with Mike? Collaborating? The seductive tone? The truth, her harshness and hardness? Turk rejecting her?
8. Popular ingredients for a 1940s murder case and police investigation?
