A good film noir directed by Fritz Lang about three newspaper reporters (Dana Andrews, Ida Lupino, and James Craig) who all work for a news media corporation lead by Vincent Price. The all star cast also features George Sanders, Thomas Michell and Howard Duff. Rhonda Fleming is also in this (wow) but she is not in the film enough - it's a very small role where she plays Vincent Price's wife who is having an affair with Craig.
On the loose in the city is a violent serial killer, dubbed the "lipstick killer"; all of his victims are female.
The killer, a deranged mamma's boy, is played by John Drew Barrymore (Drew Barrymore's father and son of the famed theater and silent film star).
Dana Andrews' reporter character hosts a nightly news TV program. During one broadcast, in the most memorable scene in the film, he looks directly into the camera and speaks to the suspect on live TV, assuring his capture based on the all the evidence gathered. We then see a shot of the killer in his bedroom sweating nervously. He's then coddled by his overbearing momma.
The killer's next target: Andrews' ladyfriend (Sally Forrest - this was her last film)
John Drew Barrymore is quite convincing in this role, and very creepy; in real life I understand he was quite a disturbed man, and was a recluse for many years. I read a report where at one point he was homeless and broke, but his daughter helped him financially to pay medical bills before he died. On the bright side of things, he does have a bright shiny star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
PS This film is hard to find (it's not on DVD) but it can be seen on Turner Classic Movies from time to time.
Aw, man this movie sounds dopealicious, but its not available on Netflix. Super frowny face
ReplyDeleteTom, I have not seen this film noir. I will add this to my "gotta see list".
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