Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Crwthod A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

boblipton Vera Hruba Ralston is a nightclub singer who has just had her opening night. Sidney Blackmer, a lawyer who's been stealing from the mob, asks her to marry him, but she doesn't love him. Mob boss Richard Karlan tells Warren Stevens to kill him, and he does so... with dance hall hostess Virginia Grey spotting him on the street just after the shot is fired. When homicide detectives David Brian and Lee van Cleef start investigating, the trail leads them immediately to Miss Ralston. Their problem is that the story she tells is not the story shown on the screen, nor does it match up their background checks.... and Miss Grey's attempts to blackmail a killer are not as smart as she would imagine....It's wide screen and color and from a story by W.R. Burnett and shows promise, but director Joseph Kane doesn't know how to direct the scenes for the sexual heat that Burnett's story demands, so the abrupt changes are a bit cringeworthy. Still, there's a good scene with Elisha Cook Jr. as a sweaty alky and Frank Puglia is rather sweet as a sympathetic night club owner. There's not a spot of chemistry between the leads, however, and the result is a sub-par time waster.

mark.waltz They say that Helen Twelvetrees was Lassie's favorite movie star and that Herbert Marshall would have been perfect in an Ed Wood film in the next leg of his career. It's obvious that Vera Ralston couldn't get into an audition unless Herbert Yates was there, and as a result, she had a 17 year film career, all at one studio. Ms. Hruba Ralston is practically forgotten today, not even remembered as a bad actress, more just a non- actress. It's obvious that even bad acting takes some effort, and Ralston simply just read the lines and prayed for a miracle with the camera work and critics. In a color process called "Naturama", she's not photogenic from certain angles, and in others, she's surprisingly lovely. But here, it's hit and miss, and her Czech accent is a bit of a detriment to her appeal, especially when it disappears when she sings. As a confidante to aging Sidney Blackmer, she's a suspect in his murder, having been spotted talking to him after he followed her home in his car, right before he gets a bullet to the head. It's obvious that she has no motive, and that mobster Warren Stevens (complete with scar) should be at the top of everybody's suspect list. Fortunately, she disappears off screen for long periods at a time, giving opportunity for some colorful characters to get involved.The supporting cast comes off somewhat better, especially veteran actress Virginia Grey as a lush involved with Stevens, Greta Thyssen as a floozy he pushes out of his apartment rather violently, and Claire Carleton as a witness who keeps making mysterious phone calls. David Brian, top billed as the police lieutenant involved in the case, is totally wooden. Lee Van Cleef plays one of his associates. The color is a plus, but with all the talents looking for work in 1956, Ralston made it a minus. When the revelation of what really happened is revealed, you might find yourself throwing something at the screen in disgust and disbelief.

PhilAFN Detectives Brian and Van Cleef are assigned to investigate the murder of Mob lawyer Blackmer. The case becomes complicated when Brian falls for Ralston, who is a suspect in the case. This causes friction between Van Cleef and Brian. Meanwhile witness Grey tries to blackmail Stevens who she believes killed Blackmer. Plenty of plot twist make this a good story with unexpected ending.One might ask what Republic Pictures was doing making a color film in what is otherwise a "B" crime drama. Well, this was another showcase film for Vera Ralston who happened to be married to Herbert Yates, head of Republic at the time. It's to bad. Had Ralston's part been played by the likes of Marie Windsor or Audrey Totter and filmed in black and white, it would be a good little film noir. Still worth a watch for the story as well as noir characters Barry Kelley and Elisha Cook.

kong-7 Pretty mediocre murder mystery with Vera Ralston totally unappealing as nightclub singer. Her hand motions during her opening number are hilarious. David Brian makes a convincing cop if not a convincing lover. Sidney Blackmer's reactions to Ralston's singing are pretty funny too. Filmed in Naturama, whatever that is