Create Your Own Noir Nightmare

[ken123]

The Grand Copt Returns
An M - G - M Film
Producer:Carey Wilson
Director:Richard Thorpe
Screenplay:Jules Furthman & Manly Palmer Hall
Music:Miklos Rosza
Director of Photography:John Alton
Special Effects:A.Arnold Gillespie
Sound:Douglas Shearer
Set Decorations:Edwin B. Willis
Art Director:Cedric Gibbons
Costumes:Adrain
Technical Advisor/Historian:Many Palmer Hall
Running Time:99 Minutes
Released 1945
Cast:
Lionel Atwill........................Count Joseph Stuarto Cagliostro - "The Grand Copt " Is Gail really your wife ? How did THAT get by the censors ?
Pat O'Brien.........................Mike McConnal- Editor "The Daily Ledger " Speak louder PLEASE!!!!!
Gail Russell........................Countess Helena Petrovoich - Reader & Wife of Count Stuarto -Cagliostro - Your to young to be his wife !
Bruce Bennett......................Det.John Landis -NYC Police
Jean Rogers.......................Jean Welsh - Reporter "The Daily Ledger "
Wallace Ford.......................Pat " Scoop" Hennessy - Reporter " The Daily Ledger " -OMG another loudmouth mick !!!!
George Zucco......................Alli Sing- Astrolger & Rival of Count Stuarto
Ann Doran..........................Angie -Editor McConnalls Secretary
Ann Patton.........................Mrs Jones - Thorpe Wealthy patron of the Grand Copt
Victor Killian.......................Joseph - Mute Assistant to the Count
Joseph Crehan.....................Eddie - Assistant Editor " The Daily Ledger "
Onslow Stevens....................Dr. Hall - Occult Historian
Marc Lawrence.....................Maurice - The Grand Copts Driver
Yvonne DeCarlo....................Girl ( Uncredited )
Edgar Dearing......................Beat Cop (Uncredited )
Donald Kerr.........................Danny - Cab Driver ( Uncredited )

Count Stuarto - Cagliostro & his " wife" are all the rage of NYC society with their healing & meditation clinic, " The Temple of Cagliostro ". They also grab the attention of girl reporter Jean Welsh, who gets her boss' ( Pat O' Brien ) approval to do a series of stories on the " spook business " & reincarnation,but " Scoop " Hennessy must accompy her at all times . Murder & mayhem insue with plenty of " Irish bellowing ".

The good Counts claims to have lived forever and be from the planet Venus.The good Count is confused, the Comte de Saint Germain, another occult figure made that claim, in the 1700's, not the real life so - called Count Cagliostro. The so - called Count Cagliostro was portrayed by Oson Welles in the Film " Black Magic ".

Manly Palmer Hall ( 1901 - 1990 ) was a Masonic/Occult Historian.

[ken123]

Chicago Exposed ( 1955 )
An RKO Production
Producer:Edmund Granger & John Houseman
Director:John Farrow
Screenplay: W.R.Burnett & A.I Bezzerides - Based on information supplied by James Ragen, Drew Pearson, Jack Lait,& Lee Mortimer
Mucic:Roy Webb
Director of Photography:Burnett Guffey
Sound:Clem Portman
Art Director:Albert S.D'Agostino
Makeup:Gordon Bau
Set Decorations:Darrell Silvera
Hairstyles:Helen Hunt
Film Editor:Gene Havlick
Narration:Drew Pearson
Running Time:120 Minutes
Cast:
Glenn Ford.....................Jim O' Leary - Chicago Police Lt. - Assigned to South Shore District
Cathy O' Donnal................Cathy O'Leary - Jims wife - Volunteer at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church 79th & Jeffery
Ray Collins......................Adolph Corwin - Chicago Real Estate & Office Supply Baron
Otto Kruger.....................Conrad Lindquiest - Business Partner of Corwin - Lester & Race Track Owner
Conrad Nagel...................Henry Lester - Restaurant Chain Owner - It is said that the "Corwin -Lindquiest - Lester mob" run Chicago.
Willis Bouchey..................Police Captain Erwin Toucher - Jim O' Learys superior - Is he " Outfit connected ?
Paul Kelly.......................Seamus Williams - Racing wire operator - Orange juice can be as deadly as bullets....sometimes
Gloria Graham................. Evie Williams wife of Seamus - She likes to " flirt " - Watch out girl
Gary Merrill.....................Albert ( " Big Al " ) Nunzio - Boss of the " Chicago Outfit "
Harry Morgan...................Peter ( "Pete" ) Gorman - General factotum to " Big Al "
Paul Stewart.....................Louis ( " Bumper" ) Battaglia - West Side Vice Boss
J.Carroll Naish..................Angelo Roselli - South East Side Gambling Boss
Marc Lawrence................. Arthur("Artie ") Miller - Bookmaker - Bad things happen to cheaters
Luther Adler.....................Stanley Green - L.A. - Chicago Lawyer - "Outfit " connected
Gerald Mohr.....................Herbie Daly - Columnist " Chicago Herald - Examiner " - Mob connected ?
George Macready...............Col. Robert Emerson Fosdick - Editor & Publisher "Chicago Daily & Sunday Mammon " Very right wing - Who could that be ?
June Havoc......................Rita LaBarr -Chicago - L.A. entertainment personalty - Girlfriend to Mr Lester - He later marries her.
Willian Conrad................... Nick DeWitt - L.A. - Chicago hitman - Dont cross us Nick ! He does cross them and gets a penny as a reward & more
Onslow Stevens................ Onslow Anderson - Nationwide Newspaper Columnist
Virginia Gregg.................. Lola Maxwell -Owner 79th & Jeffrey Lounge
Carolyn Jones...................Maisie O'Fallon - " B " girl at 79th & Jeffery Lounge
Nehemiah Persoff..............Max " Hard as Nails " Gudik - Accountant of the Chicago " Outfit " -Resident South Shore - 79th & Paxton
Ann Doran.......................Mrs Ellen Toucher - Wife of Erwin Toucher - Also a volunteer at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church **
Timothy Carey..................Albert " Lopey " Spielman - Second in command of the " Chicago Outfit " - Does June 20, 1947 mean anything ?
Anthony Caruso.................Lenny Gioa - Hitman for the " Outfit "
Adam Williams..................Jimmy ( Bats ) Bruno - "Outfit enforcer "
John Doucette....................Joe ( Mugsy' ) Brennan - " Outfit " hitman
Ted deCorsia......................Joe Mowrer - Williams bodyguard
Joe Sawyer........................Hank Mueller - Williams bodygurad
Jack Lambert......................Jack Costello - Williams bodyguard
Jay Adler...........................Hymie Schulman - Owner - Hymies Greasy Spoon - Mob Hangout - 3900 W. Division St.
Lloyd Corrigan....................James J. Doyle - "Outfit " connected Cook County Judge - Former Cook County States Attorney - DA.
Berry Kroeger.....................J.Effingham Hopper - Director Federal Law Enforcement Agency - He has secrets !
Edgar Buchanan...................Clark Thomason - Attorney General USA - Mob connected - originally from Texas
Iris Adrian.........................Molly Peters - " B - Girl for 79 & Jeffrey Lounge
Phil VanZandt.....................Leo "Ditto " LaRue - Night Club Owner
Tom Conway......................Gordon Parker - Business associate of Mr. Lester & Radio Station magnate
Ned Glass.........................Barney Babalyn - Police informer
Paul Maxey.......................Nicholas J. Bowman - Chicago Alderman 7th Ward - South Shore
Harry Shannon...................Frank " Pop " O'Leary - Jims father - Retired Chicago police officer - Likes to talk & drink beer - be careful Pop !!!
Mary Field........................Mother Superior - Our Lady of Peace
Addison Richards................Father Fahey Flynn - Monsignor at Our Lady of Peace - No one could have a name like that ! *
Donald Kerr.......................Uncredited - Cab Driver **
Willie Best........................Uncredited - News Vender 75th & Jeffery IC train station
Frank Orth........................ Uncredited )Patrick ( "Paddy " ) McDowd - Bartender - owner 79th St. Paddys Irish Pub
Nicholas J Bohling................Uncredited - Man at 79th & Jeffery Lounge - Real life GOP Alderman 7th Ward - South Shore
** Ann Doran & Donald Kerr are in every film made pre 1960

This story is is a real life story concerning the murder of James Ragen by the Chicago outfit. The Seamus Wiliams character is based on Mr. Ragen. The names have been changed to protect the innocent & many aspects have beeen dramatized for pictureization purposes. The Jim O' Leary character is based on Chicago Police Lt.James Drury who was driven from the force and eventually murdered.The hitman,ID'ed by Ragen were never brought to trial, because Mr. Ragens statements to police & law enforcement officials were lost. These events occurred between 1946 - 1950. Other witnesses to the shooting were either killed or fled the city. Almost all of the characters in my noir nightmare are made up but some of the most important ones are NOT !!!! Some are based on real people - characters other than Williams and O' Leary. When he was shot Mr Ragan was driving home to his home in South Shore, thats why the concentration on that real Chicago neighorhood, plus i wanted to write about that neighborhood. In this time period South Shore was primarily inhabited by Jews, Swedes, & Irish.

Mr Williams is being pushed by the Chicago Outfit to sell his interests in the " Word Wide Press" a horseing racing tipsheet & wire service. Mr William goes to Mr Anderson ( Pearson ) and local & Federal police authorities to tell his story & to get police protection. What he gets from the police & law enforement agencies is something else. Filmed in downtown- State & Lake - Randolph & Michigan ( IC Train & South Shore Line Station ) 12th & Michigan Avenue - & South Shore Chicago 67th & Jeffrey - 75th & Jeffrey - 79th & Jeffrey - 79th Paxton & 83rd & Merrill & 3900 West Division - West Side & 39th St ( Pershing Road ) & Michigan Avenue Near South Side.

*Fahey Flynn WAS the name of a long time Chicago TV newscaster. He spent many years at CBS - 2 & many more at ABC 7 in Chicago. He is now deceased

[moira finnie]

WoW, Ken, you really should have been working at RKO writing scripts in the '40s (and I mean that in a nice way). I like the edgy relationship between Dr. Ritter and the singer, and any movie that could bring Ann Dvorak on to the screen with Helen Walker would have my money. Now, your second feature is so real sounding I wince to think of Gail Russell's character married to Lionel Atwill or on the same planet with him, come to think of it. I also have always wondered what the heck Pat O'Brien really thought he was going to accomplish by shouting some of those bad lines they gave him in his many, many roles, but he was well, indispensable, wasn't he? I have a feeling that your third film is going to be all too familiar to our Chicago contingent here on the SSO.

I have great admiration for the detail that you put into the crew behind the scenes and want to compliment you on your choice of cinematographers! Thanks for the yuks, I hope that others will take a stab at this one soon too. I'll try to work on a few ideas soon. Thanks so much, Ken.

[ken123]

WoW, Ken, you really should have been working at RKO writing scripts in the '40s (and I mean that in a nice way). I like the edgy relationship between Dr. Ritter and the singer, and any movie that could bring Ann Dvorak on to the screen with Helen Walker would have my money. Now, your second feature is so real sounding I wince to think of Gail Russell's character married to Lionel Atwill or on the same planet with him, come to think of it. I also have always wondered what the heck Pat O'Brien really thought he was going to accomplish by shouting some of those bad lines they gave him in his many, many roles, but he was well, indispensable, wasn't he? I have a feeling that your third film is going to be all too familiar to our Chicago contingent here on the SSO.

I have great admiration for the detail that you put into the crew behind the scenes and want to compliment you on your choice of cinematographers! Thanks for the yuks, I hope that others will take a stab at this one soon too. I'll try to work on a few ideas soon. Thanks so much, Ken.

Moira,
Thanks- Your comments concerning the Atwill - Gail Russell relationship made me laugh out loud.I have been thinking about A Nightmare Alley sequel for a long time and the Helen - Ann aspect was the first thing that I wanted to put into my story. I wish that I had a better leading man than John Payne, but hes OK The Ragen story is also a long time wish of mind, I rewrote my outline because my first outline come a little to close in description to the real leaders of the Chicago outfit.The Grand Copt was a spur of the moment idea.

[ken123]

Call AUstin 7 - 1000
Mark Hellinger Productions - Released by Universal - International
Producer:Mark Hellinger
Assistant to the Producer:Jules Buck
Director:Robert Siodmak
Screenplay:Richard Brooks - From his novel Terror in the Night
Director of Photography:Franz Planer
Special Effects:Donald Horsley
Art Direction:Boris Leven & Bernard Herzbrun
Set Decorations:Russell A. Gausman & Oliver Emert
Music:Miklos Rosza & Frank Skinner
Sound:Charles Felstead & Robert Pritchard
Costumes:Yvonne Wood
Makeup:Perc Westmore
Hairstyles:Carman Dirigo
Film Editor:Ted J. Kent
Assistant Director:Melville Shyer
Released 1947 - Running Time 89 Minutes

Cast
Burt Lancaster.......................Al Bohling - Returning WW2 Vet
Marsha Hunt.........................Eileen Bohling - Als Wife
Irene Rich............................Helen Bohling - Als Mother - A widow
Sam Levene..........................Abe Diamond - Owner Diamonds Kosher Bakery - 5600 West Madison Street - Also a WW2 vet
June Havoc..........................Judith Diamond - Abes Wife
Nestor Paiva.........................Nick Acropolis - Co - Owner Acropolis Greek Bakery 5500 West Madison Street
George Tobias.......................Pete Acropolis - Co -Owner Acropolis Greek Bakery
Adelaide Klein........................Nicks wife
Thomas Gomez......................Father Paul - Pastor Assumption Greek Orthodox Church - South Central Ave
Edmond O' Brien......................Det.Lt O' Connor - Chicago Police Officer
John Ridgley..........................Officer O"Boyle - Chicago Police Officer
John Kellogg..........................Officer O" Halloran - Chicago Police Officer
John Ireland..........................Joe " Bugs " Dooley - Escaped Con
Curt Conway..........................Walt Brower - Escaped Con
Ann Doran.............................Mrs Katz - Patron Diamonds Kosher Bakery
Griff Barnett..........................Monsignor Collins - Priest Resurrection Catholic Church - West Jackson Blvd.
Ludwig Stossel........................Rabbi Louis Litchfield - Austin Jewish Community Center - South Central Ave
Willie Best.............................Willie Jones - The Bohlings Yard Man
Donald Kerr............................News Vender - Uncredited
Art McGloon...........................Man -Uncredited - Mr McGloon was a Democratic politician who later became the party leader in the State Senate
Dr Dorothy Martin.................... Woman - Uncredited - A Chicago Public School teacher - Years later Principle at Austin High School - N. Pine Ave
On a quiet Sunday afternoon Dooley and Brower escape from Cook County Jail and head to the far West Side Neighborhood of Austin where they hold the Bohling & Diamond families hostage. Dooley is a vicious racist and takes his anger out on Willie Jones & Mrs Diamond.The Chicago police are altered and a hostage situation arises.The films racial depictions were considered very frank at the time. Mainly filmed on location, some studio sound stage shooting.

All places of worship existed at the time of the filming of the motion picture and the South Austin neighborhood was made of primarily of Greek, Jewish, and Irish people. The Diamond Kosher Bakery existed also.

[ken123]

Silk & Satin
An RKO Production
Producer:John Houseman
Director:Jacques Tourneur
Screenplay:Geoffrey Holmes ( Daniel Mainwaring) From a Short Story by Cornell Woolwich
Director of Photography>Nicholas Musuraca
Special Effects:Russell A. Cully
Sound:Clem Portman
Musical Score:Ray Webb
Coductor:Constantin Bakaleinikoff
Art Director:Albert S. D'Agostino
Set Decorations:Darrell Silvera
Costumes:Robert Stevenson
Makeup:Gordon Bau
Hairstyles:Helen Hunt
Film Editor:Samuel E. Beetley
Released 1949 - Running Time 96 Minutes
Cast:
Rhonda Fleming........................Cassandra " Cassie " Yates - Lead Showgirl at "The Rebel " Nightclub - Too bad this film is photographied in black/white
Robert Mitchum........................Bob Kelly - Los Angeles Police Lt.
Dan Duryea.............................Mike McKenna - Owner " The Rebel " - Has A " yen " for Cassie
Marie Windsor.........................Ann Rogers - #2 attraction at " The Rebel " - Has a " yen " for Mike - Big Time rival of Cassie
Ann Dvorak............................Claire Kelly - Sister of Bob - A WW2 widow - Lives with Bob
Bobby Driscoll..........................Ken Kelly - Claires son
Charles Kemper.......................Pete Wilson - Los Angeles Police Detective
Jeff Corey..............................Joe Coleman - Runs " the back room " at " The Rebel " - Does not like Mike McKenna
Joseph Valentine......................Nick Conte - Goon for Mike McKenna
Steve Brodie...........................Tommy Burgess -Assistant to Conte
Harry Bellaver..........................Hal Taylor - Assistant to Conte
Gale Robbins...........................Estelle " Gams " Dwyer - Showgirl at " The Rebel "
John Miljan.............................Allen Smith - Los Angeles man about town - Very wealthy & slimy
Harry Shannon.........................Officer Klein - Los Angeles Police Department - What NOT an Irishman !
Hans Conreid...........................Ivan Ivanovich - Headwaiter at " The Rebel " - VERY Russian
Shimen Ruskin..........................Leon - Waiter at " The Rebel "
Abner Biberman........................ Larry Osmond - Patron at " The Rebels " backroom - Has an eye for the girls
Cara Williams...........................Showgirl at " The Rebel " - Uncredited
Ann Doran..............................Cab Driver - Uncredited
Donald Kerr.............................News Vender - Uncredited
Richard Denning........................Late Husband of Claire - Seen only in picture on her mantle

The Rebel lounge is raided by Jim Kelly and the LA police. He gets of glimpse of Cassie and he cant forget her. These events are noticed ( eventually ) by Claire, Ann, Mike, and some others. The whole scene turns very ugley when Gams is found murdered. The characters of Ivan & Leon provide comedy relief.

[ken123]

He Reached to High
An RKO Production
Producer:Val Lewton
Director:Jacques Tourneur
Screenplay:Albert Maltz from his short story Ambition & Capitalism
Additional Dialogue:Dalton Trumbo & Dudley Nichols ( Val Lewton - Uncredited )
Director of Photography:Jame Wong Howe
Music: Roy Webb
Art directors:Albert S. D' Agostino & Alfred Herman
Set decorations:Darrell Silvera & Harley Miller
Sound:John L. Cass & Clem Portman
Costumes:Michael Woulfe
Film Editor:J.R.Whittredge
Released 1947 - Running Time 96 minutes
Cast:
John Garfield.....................John ( Jackie ) Morrison -First generation Irish - American from Brooklyn Works his way thru Law School
Eleanor Parker....................Rose Feeney - Also first generation Irish - American - Works in a laundry -Becomes friendly with Jackie
Ella Raines........................Katharine ( Kay ) Morrison - Jackies' sister - Wants to be in Show Biz
Thomas Mitchell..................Pat Morrison - Jackies Dad - Works for the Bus Company
Sara Allgood......................Martha Morrison - Jackies Mother
Patricia Morison.................Barbara " Babs " Balfour - Park Avenue Babe - Likes the look of Jackie gib !
Taylor Holmes...................Montgomery J. Udall - Mob Connected Lawyer
Norman Lloyd....................Al Penrose - Law Partner of Mr. Udall - He also " fixes things " & I dont mean traffic tickets - I donts see a degree or license
Tom Powers......................Bill Tracy - Local political boss - Mob connected - No way !
Ray Teal..........................Ray - Aid to Bill Tracy " Get me some sluggers "
Wally Ford........................Wally Hughes - Reporter New York World - Always soft spoken & Mild mannered
Art Baker.........................Ralf Larson NYPD Detective
Frank Sully........................Paul Morrison - Jackie brother - Sorta dumb !
H.B.Warner......................Father McPhillip - Parrish Priest - Character Not in Short Story
William Davidson.................Bill Conners - Editor New York World
James Burke.....................Al - Owner Al's All Night Diner
Shimon Ruskin...................Sol - Cook at Al's
John Qualen......................Harold "Ole" Olsen Newspaper Vender
Ann Doran........................Margaret Olsen - wife of Harold Olsen -One line of dialogue
Donald Kerr......................Cab Driver - Uncredited - Two words of dialogue - " Where to " ?

Jackie Morrison has always played things on the square with a great work ethic. He is attending law school and working nights at an all night diner. When is fathers legs are severed, in a bus accident he needs money fast. Udall and Tracy can help, alone the way he meets society gal "Babs " who he likes very much. Father McPhilip advises him that he is heading for a tragic situation. Well Jackie wont listen and thereby many peoples lives are hurt.

Mr.Maltzs short story was published in The New Masses Oct 27 - 1945, in a somewhat different form. Expanded novel version published by International Publishers - 1947 Trumbo & Nichols rewote and expanded the story , but not together. Nichols rewrote some of Trumbo material who had re - written some of Maltzs work. The expand novel version did NOT include the Trumbo - Nichols material.

[ken123]

Title:Femme Fatale
Producer:Bert Friedlob - Bert Friedlob Productions -Released thru United Artists
Director:Fritz Lang
Screenplay:Casey Robinson from an unpublished short story by William Irish ( Cornell Woolrich )
Director of Photograph:Nicholas Musurcara
Music:Herschel Burke Gilbert
Art Director:Carroll Clark
Set Decorations:Darrell Silvera
Makeup:Lou LaCava
Hairstyles:Helen Hunt
Film Editor:Gene Fowler,Jr.
Released 1956 - Running Time 88 Minutes
Cast
Marie Windsor...................Josie Reid & Joe Reid.............Night Club Entertainer & Male Mob Leader - OMG !!!!!
Sterling Hayden..................Frank Elmore.......................Boy Friend of Josie/Joe - Knows her only as Josie - Works as bartender - I see trouble
Dan Duryea.......................Pete "Jiggs" Connors.............Owner of Jiggs Place - Shady character - What else ?
Timothy Carey....................Eddie " Shakey " Williams........Member Reid mob - Calm, cool, and speaks in a soft voice unless hes beating up someone - Josie/Joes Limo Driver
Joe Sawyer........................Cagney "Cags " O" Hara..........Member Reid mob - Likes to drink - But NOT when Joe Reid is around - " Cags " ????
Frank Lovejoy....................Marty Quinn.........................Lt. NYPD
Robert Burton.....................Jack Roach..........................Det.NYPD
William Leslie.....................Cornelius " Connie " McWade.....NYPD
Philip Bourneur................... Elliot Weiss.........................Queens County DA
Whit Bissell........................Arthur Bridgestone.................Police Inspector NYPD - Mousy with a smile that is far from real
Adela Mara........................" Hatty".............................Hat check girl
O.Z.Whithead......................"Whitey "...........................News Vender - He sees to much !
Ann Doran.........................Eileen Quinn........................Martys wife
Donald Kerr........................Don..................................Cabdriver
Kathleen Freeman................Mrs. O' Malley.......................The Quinns landlady The Batling Bickersons are a more serene couple
William Demarest.................Pat O' Malley........................The Quinns landlord
Iris Adrian......................... " Flo "................................Showgirl
Milton Kibbee......................Johnson..............................Coroner - Is a taxidermist as a side line
George E. Stone...................Mr Green............................Morticitian
Elisha Cook, Jr...................."Georgie" .............................Mortury Assistant - He " really " enjoys his work
Josie Reid leads a double life, by night a songbird, but after 2 - 3am, she turns into Joe Reid at least on some nites. After a big jewel heist the big heat comes down

[ken123]

Thieves in High Places (Monogram 1947 )
Producer:Lindsley Parsons
Director:Edgar Ulmer
Screenplay:Jerry Warner
Directorof Photography:Mack Stenger
Special Effects:Bob Clark
Art Direction:Dave Milton
Sound: J.T.Corrigan
Film Editor:Jodie Caplan
Running Time:71 Minutes
Cast:
Warren William..................Warren Case - Lawyer
Ann Dvorak.......................Brigdet Case - Warrens wife & daughter of Mayor Crocker
Roman Bohnen...................Mayor Richard Crocker - Mayor major U.S. Midwest city NOT Chicago
Art Smith.........................Allen Bennett - Aid to Mayor Crocker
Mary Patton......................Mary Crocker - The Mayors wife
John Litel.........................Bob Cassidy - Chief of Police
J.Edward Bromberg..............Edwin Mills - Cigar chomping pol
Marc Lawrence...................Louis " Louie " Binder - Runs a racing wire room
Phil VanZandt.....................Jacob " Jake " Binder - Nightclub owner
Ann Doran.........................Woman - Uncredited
Donald Kerr........................Door Man - Uncredited
Garry Owens......................Joe - Athletic Trainer - Uncredited
Howard Freeman.................Howie - Runs a tavern - Uncredited
Ernie Adams......................Ernie - Aid to Louie Binder- Uncredited
Jack Overman.....................Thug - Uncredited
Richard " Dick " Crocker is the newly elected " reform " mayor of a major US city, but is he actually a reformer ? During pretrial preparations on a routine case Warren Case stumbles upon some socking information concerning Allen Bennett the mayor most trusted aid. Should Warren take action against his father in law ? Speedily paced Monagram programmer directed by " B " picture vet Edgar Ulmer. Somewhat graphic in its violence for its time, but very tame by todays standards.

[ken123]

Merchants of Death
An RKO Production
Executive Producer:Sid Rogell
Producer:Adrian Scott
Director:Irving Pichel
Screenplay:Albert Maltz - From the Novel Profits & Blood by Eric Ambler
Director of Photography:Harry J. Wild
Special Effects:Vernon L. Walker
Montage:Douglas Travers
Sound:Clem Portman
Music:Roy Webb
Art Directors:Albert S. D'Agostino & Mark Lee Kirk
Set Decorations:Darrell Silvera & Ross Dowd
Costumes:Edward Stevenson
Film Editor:Joseph Noreiga
Running Time 99 Minutes - Released 1947
Cast:
John Garfield........................Gerald ( Gerry ) Post - Crusading U.S. Comgressman
George Sanders....................Sir Audrey Smyth - Jones - World renown arms merchant - Citizen of the UK - He considers himself a "Citizen of the Civilized World "
Faye Emerson......................Kay Willingham - Us born girlfriend of Sir Audrey - Former " Lady of the Boudoir " to the rich & (in)famous
Edmund Gwenn.....................Archie Cox - General factotom to Sir Audrey - Hes no Kris Kringle
Jonathan Hale......................Ellis Gilchrist - American Businessman - Much of his business is dirty, but he is an esteemed advisor to U.S. Presidents
Edward Arnold......................U.S. Senator Arthur VanDenHueval - Pompous, pseudo -patriotic "Wall Steet - City of London tool "
Victor Francen......................Pierre LaBreck - President Bank of World Settlements - Geneva Switzerland
Ludwig Donath......................Hjalmaar Mueller - German Finanicial Wizard - two marks to whoever can guess who this person
George Meeker......................Col.Randall McBride - American newspaper magnate
Irving Pichel.........................David McKenzie - British Prime Minister
George Zucco........................Mr.MacMillian - Assistant to the British Prime Minister
John Carradine......................Tom Wilcox - American newspaper reporter - ally to Congressman Post --HMMMMMMM !
Douglas Walton......................Miles Hendricks - Bristish businessman and Intel operator
Moyna MacGill.......................Moyna " Queenie " Smyth - Jones - Mother of Sir Audrey
Ann Doran............................Ann McLeod - Secretary to Col McBride
Donald Kerr..........................Man on street - Uncredited

In the pre WW2 days international business sees that great profits can be made, Congressman Post stumples across some records of The Bank of World Settlements and finds some surprises.

Shortly after this film was realesed Maltz, Garfield, and Donath had HUAC problems, and directer Pichel was on one of the " Unfriendly Nineteen " - Hollywood people who said that they would never testify befor HUAC.
Mr Ambler was a British novelist " A Coffin for Dimitrios " and also a British intel officer.

[moira finnie]

Ken, I particularly like the emblematic names that you created for your characters in the Merchants of Death noir, especially Kay Willingham (Fay Emerson) and Edward Arnold's Senator Arthur VanDenHueval, but the studio front office will make you change the latter's last name to something less familiar to New Yorkers have been voting the family members with that last name into office since Peter Stuyvesant's days in New Amsterdam.

Hmmm...John Garfield as a congressman. Perhaps this has possibilities, especially if he is as articulate as he was in Force of Evil.

The big boys in the head office will be inserting this into your credits, pronto:

[ken123]

moira,
Thanks for the kind words. You do know that you are only encouraging me to pen more fictitious noirs. Actually the VanDenHuavel name not only comes from " The Nation " editor family, but is also a play on the name a famous GOP Senator from the Midwest. His nephew was the head of the CIA for a time and an Air Force base is named after him. Also was Garfild character is based on a real Democratic Congressman from California, who was defeated by Richard Nixon in 1946. Mueller is based on Hjalmar Schacht Hitler's Banker, Mr Schacht was aquitted, of War Crimes, at Nuremburg.

[ken123]

Terror in Brooklyn - A PRC Film
Producer:Charles F. Riesner
Director:Anthony Mann
Screenplay:John C. Higgins
Director of Photography:Guy Roe
Special Effects:George J. Teague
Sound:Frank McWhorter
Music"Leon Elrody
Set Decoration:Elias H Reif
Customes:Harolod Bradow
Film Editor:Carl Pierson
Running Time 76 Minutes - Released 1947
Cast:
John Ireland.........................Arthur ( Babe ) McCarron - Small time Hood
Sheila Ryan..........................Sheila ( Bumps ) Grimes - Show girl & girlfriend of Babe
Phil VanZandt........................Charlie McGuire - Owner with Babe of Charlie & Babes' Loung - Does this guy ever own something other than a nightclub ? Not in my " films "
Hillary Brooke........................Phyliss ( Blondie ) Clooney - Showgirl - Rival of Sheila
John Miljohn.........................Det. John McCoy - NYC Police Detective
Allen Jenkins.........................Olaf O' Shea - NYPD - Olaf O' Shea - What kind of name is that. A Swedish/Irishman ?
Gale Robbins..........................Claire Wemlinger - Showgirl - Great gams
Frank Conway........................Bill " Pops " Tetley - New Vender
Mary Gordon..........................Ruth Grimes - Mother of Sheila
James Bell.............................Father Edward Flynn - Parrish Priest - NOT related to the Bronx County Democratic boss of the time
Whit Bissell...........................Wilbur Manning - He likes to walk late at night
Richard Erdman.......................Billy Cook - Bellboy - Where did I steal that one?
Lloyd Corrigan.........................Frank Manning - Wilburs father
Rosalind Ivan..........................Martha Manning - Wilburs mother OMG!
Ann Doran............................Patron at nightclub - uncredited
Donald Kerr...........................Cabdriver - uncredited

Young women are under assault in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn Sheila Grimes is being followed by a strange man. Babe helps the police.

[ken123]

The Town That Lost its Soul
Dore Schary Presents an RKO Production
Producer:Edmund Grangier
Director:Anthony Mann
Screenplay:W.R.Burnett - From his novel The Green Felt Mob
Director of Photography:John Alton
Music:Roy Webb
Special Effects;Russell A. Cully
Sound:Clem Portman
Art Director:Walter E.Keller
Set Decorations:Darrell Silvera
Film Editor:Elmo Williams
Cast:
Edmond O' Brien.............................Eddie Brown - Barfly - Former newspaper reporter - New York Bulletin & Chicago Morning Post - Hopes to make it back to the big time
Robert Ryan.................................Chris Abel - Sheriff Edinborough Arizona Restless as the town withers on the vine
Audrey Totter...............................Evie Ryan - Daughter of Judge Cornelius Ryan - Likes nice things
Anne Jefferys...............................Jan Sutton - Ownet & main attraction at The Golden Apple - Saloon & gambling joint. Friend of the sheriff
Paul Fix......................................Judge Cornelius ( Connie ) Ryan - Washed up jurist - Since his wife died his love for John Barleycorn has risen
Raymond Burr...............................Jamieson Todd - Businessman from the East - Shifty
Roman Bohnen...............................Arthur Cain - Banker from the East - Has recently arrived and opened a new bank " The Edinborough Trust " - those symbol is a serpent eating its own tail.
Jeff Corey....................................Frank Capelli - Business associate of Todd - A little rough around the edges for a businessman
Steve Brodie..................................Seth Morrissey - Business associate of Todd - Ditto above
Clarence Kolb.................................Schyuler Coleman - Lawyer for the Todd group
Howard Freeman.............................Michael D. Murphy - Mayor of Edinborough - Not completely honest
Ann Doran.....................................Essie - The mayors secretary - Hears to much
Denver Pyle....................................Burt Newcombe - Deputy sheriff - Always short of money
Uncredited.....................................Donald Kerr, Charles Wagenheim, Jack Norton, Charles Arnt ( barflys ) - Frank Orth ( Joe the bartender ), Murray Alper ( Al the bartender ), Harry Hayden ( Pete - Deskman The Edinborough Hotel ), Kathleen Freeman ( Ma - Owner The Edinborough Hotel ), Phil VanZandt,Robin Raymond,Matt McHugh,Walter Baldwin,Gene Stutenroth,Robert Foulk,Tristam Coffin, Grandon Rhoads.

As the year turns to 1900, the town of Edinborough is withering away. The silver mine has gone dry and the town is losing citizens, but a savior may be at hand.
Noir meets the somewhat new west. Eddie Brown wants the big time, but cant lose the habit of bending the elbow, the sheriff wants to move on but his love for Jan makes him stay, the judge dosent know what he wants, his daughter knows what she wants.The Todd group needs to buy the Golden Apple,but Jan doesnt want to sell, and The Edinborough Trust shold the mortgage on its. Accidents happen at a rapid rate.

[ken123]

Ewing Avenue
A Republic Picture
Executive Producer:Herbert J. Yates
Director:Frank Borzage
Screenplay:W.R.Burnett
Photography:John L. Russell
Special Effects:Howard & Theodore Lydecker
Music:Morris Stoloff
Musical Score:Hans Salter
Running time 96 minutes Released 1949

Cast:
Howard Duff................Jeff Dwyer - Plant Manager Progressive Steel
Barbara Hale................Kate Dwyer - Jeffs wife
Tommy Rettig...............Kevin Dwyer - The Dwyers son
Russell Hicks................Addison James - Owner Progressive Steel - Ethically impaired
Ray Collins..................Michael Conroy - Chicago Police Lt.
Hillary Brooke...............Sheila James - Addison James younger wife - Not to be trusted
Barbara O' Neil...............Arlene James - Addison James sister - Distrusts her brother
Mike Mazurki................"Stush " Koblinski - Worker at Progressive Steel
Thomas Gomez..............Al Lingle - Union Leader
Virginia Christine............Wanda Koblnski - Wife of " Stash "
Griff Barnet...................Joe McGuire - Head of Security at Progressive Steel
Art Smith......................Bernard Bixby - Union Lawyer
Everett Sloane................Fr. Peter Popinski - Parish Priest
Wally Cassel..................Lou Fishetti - Worker at Progressive Steel
Ann Doran....................." Maggie " - Addison James secretary
uncredited:
Donald Kerr, Harry Shannon, James Burke,Eliot Sullivan,Teresa Harris,Ralph Moody,Frank Richards,Cliff Clark,Fred Graham,Edwin Max,Walter Baldwin,Jeff York, Hans Conreid,Peter Brocco,Nesdon Booth,Paul Brinegar,Kathleen O' Malley,Grandon Rhoads,Frank Fergusson,Jay C. Flippin,John " Skins " Miller, John Harmon,Robert Osterloh,Mae Clarke,Charles Arnt, Richard Benedict,Kasia Orzazewski,Walter Greaza,Larry Blake,Henry Kulky,Myron Healey,Dewey Robinson,William Forrest,Julia Faye,Robert Emmett O' Connor,Queenie Smith,Vladimir Sokoloff,Byron Foulger,Dorothy Adams,Leon Belasco,Hank Worden,J.Farrell McDonald,Emmett Vogan,Heinie Conklin,Dick Elliot,Ralph Dumke,Ray Teal,Whit Bissell,Gaylord ( Steve ) Pendleton,Julian Rivero,William Tannen,Vince Barnett.

Union organizers are having problems at Progessive Steels Works on Ewing Avenue on the Far Southeast Side of Chicago. Plant manager Jeff Dwyer has his hands full, not realizing what is really going on.
At the time of the making of this film the far southeast side ( the tenth ward ) of Chicago was populated by Irish, Mexicans, and Eastern Europeans.