KID GLOVE KILLER

US, 1942, 74 minutes, Black and white.
Van Heflin, Marsha Hunt, Lee Bowman, Samuel S. Hines, Eddie Quillan, John Litel.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann.

Kid Glove Killer is a brief murder thriller, focusing on civic corruption as did so many films of the 1940s. In a way, the film also anticipates the film noir which would emerge at the end of World War Two.

Van Heflin appears as a CSI investigator, seen only in his lab. Marsha Hunt portrays his assistant. Lee Bowman portrays a radio personality who seems to be campaigning for the mayor’s election but, in reality, is in the pay of the Mob and putting himself in a position to favour the Mob boss.

The film is brief, focuses on the double-dealings of the radio personality, his contacts with the Mob, the murder of the prosecuting attorney and then the rigging of a bomb in the mayor’s car. However, it is the evidence that the laboratory investigates that incriminates the villain and there is a final confrontation in the laboratory. In the meantime, the radio personality has made advances on the lab assistant who responds favourably to him – but then realises, with the evidence, what he is really like.

After working in MGM short features, Fred Zinnemann made this as his first feature film. He made smaller films at MGM during the 1940s including Little Mister Jim and My Brother Talks To Horses. However, he was to win an Oscar in 1953 for From Here To Eternity and again in 1966 for A Man For All Seasons.

1.An entertaining B-feature from MGM? The 40s?

2.The city, the mayor’s office, prosecuting attorney? The crime laboratories? Radio stations? The clubs and restaurants? The city atmosphere? The musical score?

3.The plausibility of the plot: Gerry and his power with the media, campaigning for the mayor, the mayor’s election, the program against crime, the revelation that Gerry was in the pay of Matty, the sabotaging of the anti-crime program, the murder of the prosecutor, the murder of the mayor? Gerry’s romance with Jane Mitchell? His being exposed, the confrontation with Gordon Mackay?

4.Gordon, in the laboratory, devoted to his job, sardonic attitude? Investigations, assisted by Jane Mitchell, referring to her as Mitchell? Not seeing that she was in love with him? His suspicions, her examining the evidence and passing it on to Gordon? Gerry coming to confront Gordon and kill him? Jane Mitchell present?

5.The mayor, relying on Gerry, being elected, an upright man, his speeches, program? His wife? His shock at the prosecutor’s murder? His own death?

6.The prosecutor, the anti-crime campaign, the murder? Eddie Wright and his being the fall guy? Bewildered? Blamed?

7.Matty, the contact with Gerry, his criminal empire? Arranging murders? The payments? Sinister?

8.Jane, her work, not wanting to work in the laboratory, responding to Gerry’s attentions, going out with him, suspicions, the evidence, examining them? The romance with Gordon?

9.Small-budget but effective writing and direction for this kind of small film? MGM polish?