Mystery Street (1950)
Genre: Filmnoir / Crime
Duration: 93 minuten
Alternative title: Murder at Harvard
Country:
United States
Directed by: John Sturges
Stars: Ricardo Montalban, Sally Forrest and Bruce Bennett
IMDb score:
7,2 (3.990)
Releasedate: 23 June 1950
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Mystery Street plot
"MYSTERY STREET will thrill you!"
Six months after her disappearance, the skeleton of nightclub dancer Vivian Heldon is found in the dunes of Cape Cod. Boston Police Inspector Morales arrests shortly after identifying the dead one, Henry Shanway. This one denies. Meanwhile, the search is on for the only missing evidence against him: the murder weapon.
Actors and actresses
Peter Moralas
Grace Shanway
Dr. McAdoo
Mrs. Smerrling
Henry Shanway
Vivian Heldon
James Joshua Harkley
Jackie Elcott
Tim Sharkey
Jim Black the Tattooist
Reviews & comments
MNV2
-
- 6932 messages
- 1901 votes
That's the story of my life. I'm always where I shouldn't be. I'm also not where I should be. Ever since Adam, Man's been crying, 'Where am I?'
Very well-maintained Noir about a complex murder case in which Harvard University is called in to help. Particularly interesting is to see how such an investigation with an autopsy was tackled in 1950, a time when there were no computers to link skulls to people, it could almost be a 50s version of TV series like 'Bones' or 'CSI'.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this movie considering the low average on the site. The whole police investigation was very entertaining and literally never bored for a moment, partly because of the interesting characters and the fact that an innocent person has to pay for a murder. Very What was interesting was not only the reactions of the wife of the innocent character and the way she tried to save her husband from the electric chair, but also the reaction of the man who twisted his story to think about his reputation or to avoid any suspicion of to push themselves away. The cast clearly consisted of very good actors, such as Jan Sterling (Vivian Heldon in the film) who is actually only seen in the first fifteen minutes but who played her role very convincingly. I still remember Bruce Benett from Dark Passage and Treasure of the Sierra Madre where he shared the lead roles with Bogart, I've always thought he was a good actor. Sally Forrest was also a nice appearance and I found Elsa Lanchester's acting as Mrs. annoying. Smerrling (although that also has to do with her role). Recommended.
3.5 stars
Translated from Dutch · View original
Justinw
-
- 5378 messages
- 1803 votes
One of John Sturges' first films and since the films before it received no votes except for The Capture (2 votes), I don't think I'll watch another Sturges film.
This film was a treat anyway. Sturges making a Noir and it works out well too. Although the real Noir atmosphere is missing, the film is still entertaining. The whole detective work together with the autopsy on the body are very well portrayed. It does feel like a precursor to a CSI as the others say, and it seems like a slightly longer episode.
My opinions about the acting are divided. Ricardo Montalban as Morales steals the show. He acts impeccably and fortunately he is in almost every scene. Jan Sterling as Vivian also plays her role tightly in the beginning and I also liked Marshall Thompson as Mr. Shanway. The rest did a bit less with Elsa Lanchester as Mrs. Smerling as the low point. She may not have a pleasant role but she acts fake and annoying. A compliment for the man who played Harkley, Edmon Ryan does not get much attention but is very strong at those moments.
Very captivating crime film by Sturges with a touch of Noir!
Translated from Dutch · View original
simonvinkie
-
- 2271 messages
- 827 votes
Almost everyone writes it already, but this is indeed just a precursor to CSI, Bones, Criminal Minds and all those kinds of series. This is a nice movie. John Sturges has made a lot of nice westerns and I was also curious about a movie from another genre of his.
It all looks very neat and the atmosphere is especially pleasant due to the beautiful photography. The story doesn't have much substance, but fortunately the film doesn't last that long either. Nice to see how a police investigation went at that time. Especially that autopsy was funny. The acting performances were also fine. Ricardo Montalban played a good leading role. There were no real standouts in the cast, but almost everyone acted well. Nice detective film. Great noir atmosphere and otherwise also just a fine film.
3 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
