Hugo Haas and Cleo Moore |
Film director Walter Darman (Hugo Haas) quickly needs a gal, any gal, to say three lines in a scene he's currently shooting. Ambitious Sherry Stewart (Cleo Moore), a member of the crew, is drafted, but does a pretty bad job and is replaced in the scene. Not tightly wrapped, Sherry's anger toward Darman and her allegedly lost opportunity for stardom is blown out of all proportion; she inveigles her boyfriend, Ronnie (Lance Fuller of The She-Creature) to help her get even with the man. It all leads to scheming, blackmail, and ultimately, murder. Yes, this is yet another Haas-Moore collaboration, and while it holds the attention, it never really sizzles as it should. Haas is fine, as always, and Moore is vivid but somehow second-rate. Darman and his father-in-law, movie producer Jack Macy (Charles Lester) have conversations about what constitutes a good movie, although Haas seems to have left out good characterization and dialogue. The movie has a very, very early use of the world "sexist." One character's attempt to come up with an alibi is laughably inept.
Verdict: Low level film noir. **.
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