SHIELD FOR MURDER

US, 1954, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Edmond O' Brien, John Agar, Marla English, Emile Meyer, Carolyn Jones, Claude Akins, Lawrence Ryle, William Schallert Vito Scotti, Richard Deacon.
Directed by Howard Koch and Edmond O' Brien.

Shield for Murder is quite a striking supporting feature, starring Edmond O’ Brien, co-directed by him with producer, Howard Koch. Strong black-and-white photography, angles from below, highlighting faces and character.

The film opens with the murder, the audience shocked at the behaviour of Edmond O’ Brien is Barney Nelson, his killing the man in the alley, taking the money, then asserting that he was a police officer and had killed the man in his attempt to escape.

The film is a portrait of a middle-aged man, his moral collapse, his obsession with a younger woman who worked at a bar, his prim forbidding her to dress and act as a cigarette girl, his taking her to a model home that he would like to buy for her – where he also hides the money.

John Agar is a young man whom he befriended when the boy was young and a potential criminal. He has now grown into a serious-minded police officer and detective. Ultimately, after believing in Barney, he is the one to confront him.

There is an interesting range of characters in supporting aspects of the plot, Carolyn Jones giving a strong performance as the woman in the bar that he encounters, Vito Scotti as the cook and the staff of the bar where Barney drinks and behaves violently, a young man brought into the police precinct paralleling the experience of Mark in the past, the deaf mute who witnesses the crime, writes his testimony, is killed by Barney.

(Edmond O’ Brien won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar that same year for The Barefoot Contessa.)
While of its time, it stands up well in later decades.

1. The title? The title? Police investigation? Corrupt policeman and motivation? Using his police badge as a shield for his crimes

2. A film of the 1950s? Black-and-white photography? Atmosphere? The lower angles of the camera for focusing on faces? Close-ups? Compositions? The musical score?

3. Edmond O’ Brien, a star vehicle, his co-directing? His winning an Oscar that same year?

4. Barney Nelson, years of service, age, disillusionment, his help from Mark in the past, their friendship? Money difficulties? Connection with the criminals? The encounter in the alley, shooting his victim, taking the money? The irony that he was seen – by the deaf mute?

5. His calling the police, his cover, shooting the man resisting? At the office, policeman friends, police suspicions? The captain and his not wanting police to be blamed? The investigation? Relying on Mark?

6. Barney, his private life, relationship with Patty, her work at the club, well-known there, his stopping her being a cigarette girl? The relationship? Her devotion to him? Her friendship with Mark? Barney taking her to see the model house, intention to buy it for her, his being pleased with her response, his hiding the money?

7. The criminals, the chief, hiring detectives, characters, strong-arm tactics on Barney? His response? Violent encounters? The Chief wanting his money back? The deals with Barney?

8. The deaf mute, coming to the police station, writing the note? Barney taking charge, going to his apartment, the man having written his witness, Barney pushing him, his death, covering the fingerprints, pushing him down the stairs? Mark, the investigation, finding the witness statement?

9. Barney, the time with Patty, inviting her to go with him? Her hesitation, his striking her? Mark looking for her, her disappearance? Trying to help Barney?

10. Barney, drinking in the bar, the portrait of the woman talking with him, coming onto him, wanting to eat?

11. The young man brought into the precinct, the parallel with Mark in the past, offering him a chance?

12. Barney, the disappearance, the role of the Captain, the police force, the range of police to find him? His changing into his uniform? Participating in the search? The police holding him up, his response? The violence?

13. The car, his going to the house, recovering the money, the confrontation with Mark?

14. The downfall of a police officer?