Shadow of Suspicion - 1944
This is a brisk, if sometimes confusing programmer from bottom feeder studio, Monogram. Monogram, along with Producers Releasing Corporation were pretty well the end of the trail for actors on their way down. Drunks, has been actors and never will be types filled the ranks of the studio. Now, having said that, Monogram, did upon occasion turn out a decent film. This one is sort of in the middle, not great, but not a waste of time either. The just over an hour runtime helps.
Private investigators Peter Cookson and Tim Ryan are sent to Chicago to keep an eye on some very expensive jewels. The New York head office suspects that something might be amiss at the Chicago end. The two men are undercover. At first the viewer thinks perhaps the pair, are really there to steal the jewels themselves.
Cookson, a smart talker with the ladies, is soon mixed up with Marjorie Weaver, the assistant to Chicago store manager, Pierre Watkin. Watkin is the man Cookson and Rice are keeping an eye on. Anyways, Cookson and Rice spot Watkins replace the real jewels with some fakes. It turns out that Watkins is in cahoots with a diamond stealing mob run by his mother Clara Blandick.
Cookson and Rice in turn steal the jewels from Watkins. This all leads to a couple of fist fights with the crooks, as well as a few guns being pulled. It takes a timely rescue by the Police to save the day for the heroes.
The film would have been better served, if they had played the action straight up as a crime drama. The weak attempts at humour really do not add anything to the plot. It has its moments though, with Cookson showing he had some talent. Noir fans will know him from 1946's, FEAR with Warren Williams and Anne Gwynne.
The director was long serving b helmsman, William "One Shot" Beaudine. He earned this moniker by never taking more than one take for a shot. Studios, such as Monogram, loved him as he used less film stock than other directors, thus helping their bottom line. The man worked from 1915 till 1968. Nobody is sure just how many films he directed. It could be anywhere from 350 to over 500.
This is a brisk, if sometimes confusing programmer from bottom feeder studio, Monogram. Monogram, along with Producers Releasing Corporation were pretty well the end of the trail for actors on their way down. Drunks, has been actors and never will be types filled the ranks of the studio. Now, having said that, Monogram, did upon occasion turn out a decent film. This one is sort of in the middle, not great, but not a waste of time either. The just over an hour runtime helps.
Private investigators Peter Cookson and Tim Ryan are sent to Chicago to keep an eye on some very expensive jewels. The New York head office suspects that something might be amiss at the Chicago end. The two men are undercover. At first the viewer thinks perhaps the pair, are really there to steal the jewels themselves.
Cookson, a smart talker with the ladies, is soon mixed up with Marjorie Weaver, the assistant to Chicago store manager, Pierre Watkin. Watkin is the man Cookson and Rice are keeping an eye on. Anyways, Cookson and Rice spot Watkins replace the real jewels with some fakes. It turns out that Watkins is in cahoots with a diamond stealing mob run by his mother Clara Blandick.
Cookson and Rice in turn steal the jewels from Watkins. This all leads to a couple of fist fights with the crooks, as well as a few guns being pulled. It takes a timely rescue by the Police to save the day for the heroes.
The film would have been better served, if they had played the action straight up as a crime drama. The weak attempts at humour really do not add anything to the plot. It has its moments though, with Cookson showing he had some talent. Noir fans will know him from 1946's, FEAR with Warren Williams and Anne Gwynne.
The director was long serving b helmsman, William "One Shot" Beaudine. He earned this moniker by never taking more than one take for a shot. Studios, such as Monogram, loved him as he used less film stock than other directors, thus helping their bottom line. The man worked from 1915 till 1968. Nobody is sure just how many films he directed. It could be anywhere from 350 to over 500.