Accused of Murder (1956)

A different way of telling a story

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

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.

A big time lawyer is shot on a street. The cops investigate, finding a tangled web of suspects, while the head cop gets involved with one of the suspects.Thoroughly forgettable crime drama (not noir). Two reasons for watching might be to catch evil-eye Lee Van Cleef as a cop, of all things, and still early in his unusual career. Then there's Vera Hruba Ralston often mocked as Hollywood's worst actress. She's not too bad here as a lounge singer. Can't help but sympathize with her fruitless effort to become the Hollywood queen Republic's head honcho Herbert Yates insisted upon. And that's despite her not speaking English and having little talent. She does show some accomplishment here, however. Note, in passing, the spiffy suits the men wear, even the cops. Like maybe, they just came off the studio rack, which I expect they did. Too bad pedestrian Joe Kane directs without a single imaginative touch, while actor Brian literally walks through his cop part. Anyway, the cars are clean and shiny, the candy-box colors near perfect, and the run- time fairly brief. So it all swallows down easily if unmemorably.

Although there are some quite promising plot ideas in this screenplay, adapted by Bob Williams and W.R. Burnett from Burnett's 1952 novel titled "Vanity Row", Republic's stereotyped, "B"-movie handling leaves a lot to be desired. The film emerges as a dull and dreary low-budget thriller, complete with uninspired characters yet hardly a second of action. Certainly, despite a fine cast line-up headed by David Brian, Vera Ralston and Sidney Blackmer, director Joe Kane does not evince even a spark of interest throughout the whole dreary proceedings which seem to drag on and on well over the film's actual running time of 74 minutes. Production values are negligible.

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