- Destination Murder
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Destination Murder 
Theatrical release lobby cardDirected by Edward L. Cahn Produced by Edward L. Cahn
Maurie M. SuessScreenplay by Don Martin Starring Joyce Mackenzie
Stanley Clements
Hurd HatfieldMusic by Irving Gertz Cinematography Jackson Rose Editing by Philip Cahn Studio Prominent Features Inc. Distributed by RKO Pictures Release date(s) June 8, 1950 (United States) Running time 72 minutes Country United States Language English Destination Murder (1950) is an American crime film noir directed by Edward L. Cahn. The drama features Joyce Mackenzie, Stanley Clements and Hurd Hatfield.[1]
Contents
Plot
A woman sets out to find her father's killer, becomes involved with racketeers and murder.
Cast
- Joyce Mackenzie as Laura Mansfield
- Stanley Clements as Jackie Wales
- Hurd Hatfield as Stretch Norton
- Albert Dekker as Armitage
- Myrna Dell as Alice Wentworth
- James Flavin as Police Lt. Brewster
- John Dehner as Frank Niles
- Richard Emory as Police Sgt. Mulcahy
- Norma Vance as Fran, Inebriated Lady
- Suzette Harbin as Harriett, Nightclub Maid
- Buddy Swan as Arthur - Blue Streak Messenger
- Bert Wenland as Dave, Blue Streak Messenger
- Franklyn Farnum as Arthur Mansfield, Laura's Father
- Steve Gibson as Leader of Redcap Singing Group
- Steve Gibson's Redcaps as Singing Group
Reception
Film critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a mixed review, writing, "A snappy B-film crime thriller from RKO that is only enjoyable because the story is so quirky. Unfortunately, it is burdened with a convoluted plot and an undeveloped character study. Edward L. Cahn plays it safe in his direction, as he hints of a homosexual relationship between the two main criminals but fails to pursue that avenue of thought. There are also many scenes and situations that seem hokey and hardly credible, as the action not only looks fake but the actors seem to have no energy to even fake the scenes with some enthusiasm."[2]
Critic Hans J. Wollstein also panned the film, writing, "In Destination Murder, former starlet Myrna Dell plays one of those hard-bitten, blonde schemers that no true film noir could be without. Unfortunately, both she and Stanley Clements, the only other interesting character in the film, are killed off fairly early on in the game. The result is a rather unsatisfying crime thriller where the 'Why?' is more of a mystery than the 'Who?'"[3]
References
- ^ Destination Murder at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Schwartz, Dennis. Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, April 26, 2002. Last accessed: February 28, 2011.
- ^ Wollstein, Hans J., allmovie, film review. Last accessed: February 28, 2011.
External links
- Destination Murder at the Internet Movie Database
- Destination Murder at the TCM Movie Database
- Destination Murder preview clip at You Tube (Warner Bros. Archive Collection)
Selected filmography of director Edward L. Cahn 1930s/1940s Homicide Squad (1931) · Law and Order (1932) · Laughter in Hell (1933) · Death Drives Through (1935) · The Omaha Trail (1942, uncredited) · Gas House Kids in Hollywood (1947)1950s Destination Murder (1950) · Two-Dollar Bettor (1951) · Creature with the Atom Brain (1955) · Girls in Prison (1956) · The She Creature (1956) · Shake, Rattle & Rock! (1956) · Flesh and the Spur (1957) · Voodoo Woman (1957) · Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) · Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) · Jet Attack (1958) · Suicide Battalion (1958) · Curse of the Faceless Man (1958) · It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) · Hong Kong Confidential (1958) · Guns, Girls, and Gangsters (1959) · Invisible Invaders (1959) · Pier 5, Havana (1959) · The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959)1960s Categories:- 1950 films
- English-language films
- 1952 films
- American films
- Black-and-white films
- Crime drama films
- Film noir
- RKO Pictures films
- Thriller films
- Films directed by Edward Cahn
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