THE MAN WHO CHEATED HIMSELF

US, 1950, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Lee J. Cobb, Jane Wyatt, John Dall, Lisa Howard.
Directed by Felix E. Feist.

This is an interesting variation on the policeman who becomes infatuated with a femme fatale who leads him into corruption and the breaking of the law.

The policeman in question is played by Lee J.Cobb, who is usually seen in effective supporting roles from On the Waterfront to The Exorcist. His younger brother, starting his life as a detective and about to be married, is played by John Dall (Oscar-nomination for The Corn is Green, appearing in Hitchcock’s Rope, Gun Crazy as well as Spartacus). Jane Wyatt is the spoiled wealthy woman who controls the policeman – not a particularly persuasive performance.

The plot involves getting rid of the body of the husband who attempted to kill his wife but is shot by her, the policeman dumping the body at the airport, investigating but continually covering up until his brother begins to ask questions, doing interviews, putting pieces together and, ultimately, having to confront his brother.

Lisa Howard, who plays the fiancee, was married to the director but later moved into being a significant political journalist before taking her life.

1. The title, the focus on the policeman, his sense of duty, the affair and his love, covering up the death, his being found out, the irony of being found out by his brother, his finally being caught?

2. The San Francisco settings, the city, apartments, mansions, the police precincts, the airport, the Bridges? Authentic feel? Musical score?

3. Ed, Reputation, skills? Lois ringing him, his going to her? The affair? The situation with her husband? His return, the gun, Lois shooting him? Ed’s a decision to cover it up?

4. Andi, Janet, Andy beginning his work as a policeman, the marriage, Ed is the best man, Andi becoming involved, is detection, postponing the honeymoon?

5. Ed, his decision, the body, the car, the airport, the husband and his ticket to Seattle, Ed phoning for information? Depositing the body, the couples seen the car and being interviewed? Crossing the bridge, the policeman on duty and is later giving the information to Andy?

6. Lois, rich and spoilt, the tantrum with her husband, the divorce, the money, his return, his having fixed the door, the gun, the struggle, Lois shooting him?

7. Ed, the investigation, with Andi, being impersonal, the bullet hole in the book? Covering everything? The couple identifying the wrong colour the car?

8. Andi, continued investigation, questions, becoming suspicious of Ed?

9. The evidence coming together, Ed realising that they would have to leave, the car, hiding at the warehouse?

10. Andi, the realisation, Ed tying him up, getting loose, Janet helping, Andy knowing where it would go? The couple hiding? Andy leaving – the company out of hiding, Ring arrested?

11. The court case, Ed in custody, Lois with her lawyer, passing by, her smile?

12. A San Francisco version of the femme fatale and the film noir?