CRIME AGAINST JOE

CRIME AGAINST JOE (1956). Director: Lee Sholem. A Bel-Air Production.

Joe Manning (John Bromfield, pictured) is an unsuccessful painter who's basically supported by his understanding mother, Nora (Frances Morris). One night he goes off on a drunk and encounters a sleepwalking beauty and her father, who refuses to alibi him when a woman is found dead with Joe's school pin at her side. The main suspect, Manning, and Frances (Julie London) a pretty car hop who's in love with him, set about to figure out which guy who's missing the same class pin could be the real culprit. There are some interesting elements in this, but it's given a typically Grade C TV-type Bel-Air treatment. In fact, it's less entertaining than other Bel-Air productions. Bromfield was also in Manfish and Three Bad Sisters, another Bel-Air "mess"terpiece. Bromfield is adequate if unspectacular, and London just doesn't have enough oomph. It's easy to see why she did much more television work than film. Nothing much here, all told.

Verdict: Slight murder mystery. **.