Just because certain actors are forgotten doesn't mean that they weren't one stars or deserving of rediscovery. and just because someone is a character actor best known for a certain type of role doesn't mean that they always played that role. Don't expect Mr. Magoo or Mr. Howell in agent Jim Backus who narrates the film from the very beginning, bringing writer Richard Conte to Hollywood to utilize him for ideas. While roaming around the boulevards of broken dreams, Conti learns about a murder of a Hollywood director that took place as the silent films were transitioning to sound. With the murder unsolved, he thinks it is a perfect way to break into film, unaware that the killer is still at large and that the police have not closed the case.
At first, Backus doesn't think that this is a good idea for a subject for a film, and police detective Richard Egan agrees. But Conte interviews many of the people who knew the deceased director, as well as the daughter (Julie Adams) of one of his big stars. she objects to the picture because she believes it might bring out secrets from her parents past but Contei reassures her that it will be dignified. There's also Henry Hull as a legendary screenwriter who disappeared into obscurity, Fred Clark who was a young producer at the time, and a variety of silent actors playing themselves, among them Francis X. Bushman.
This is a well-crafted and neatly plotted murder mystery, not a big studio film, but ripped with talent, great vintage Hollywood locations and fun character performances doing their best with an awesome screenplay. Conte is one of the great unsung leading men of Hollywood's golden age, great weather playing gangsters or heroes. Julie Adams, one of the great unsung beauties of the 1950's, was also a very good actress as well, and her character is surrounded by mystery as well. While there are no ghosts in the story, the film is haunted by spirits from the silent era, and it is a great nostalgic view with a murder mystery twist to make it intriguing and a lot of fun.
At first, Backus doesn't think that this is a good idea for a subject for a film, and police detective Richard Egan agrees. But Conte interviews many of the people who knew the deceased director, as well as the daughter (Julie Adams) of one of his big stars. she objects to the picture because she believes it might bring out secrets from her parents past but Contei reassures her that it will be dignified. There's also Henry Hull as a legendary screenwriter who disappeared into obscurity, Fred Clark who was a young producer at the time, and a variety of silent actors playing themselves, among them Francis X. Bushman.
This is a well-crafted and neatly plotted murder mystery, not a big studio film, but ripped with talent, great vintage Hollywood locations and fun character performances doing their best with an awesome screenplay. Conte is one of the great unsung leading men of Hollywood's golden age, great weather playing gangsters or heroes. Julie Adams, one of the great unsung beauties of the 1950's, was also a very good actress as well, and her character is surrounded by mystery as well. While there are no ghosts in the story, the film is haunted by spirits from the silent era, and it is a great nostalgic view with a murder mystery twist to make it intriguing and a lot of fun.