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Scene of the Crime (1949 film)

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of odes to the nobility of cops. We have also been privileged to make the acquaintance of several colorful underworld types….And, particularly, we have been permitted to observe Mr. Johnson making love in several assorted flavors, this being one of a good detective's chores. Not only does he nuzzle and coo most sublimely with his wife, who is played with considerable temptation by a new cutie, name of Arlene Dahl, but he also pitches plenty to a stream-lined night-club job from whom he would wring certain secrets of a purely professional sort. This dame played by Gloria De Haven, is quite a nifty, too. In both of his amorous assignments, Mr. Johnson will no doubt please his fans.…For in writing, direction and performance, "Scene of the Crime" is a flexible film that form-fits to Mr. Johnson's talents as a right glamourous gent. Witness dismissed.”
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gangster's moll playing up to Johnson. Unable to show a stripper actually stripping, the film shows her doing a "reverse strip": Lili starts in a – for the time – skimpy outfit, and puts her clothes on while singing Andre Previn and William Katz' song "I'm a Goody Good Girl". As with Johnson, the film opened up new possibilities for DeHaven. Also playing against type, the glamorous, curvaceous Arlene Dahl plays a demure concerned housewife to Johnson’s cop.
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Lili calls headquarters with a tip for Conovan on where Turk can be found. Piper intercepts the message, investigates it himself and is gunned down. Conovan concludes that Lili has been double-crossing him, secretly helping Turk all along. Turk and his new partner attempt to flee, but Conovan sets
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reassures his readers: “Leave it to Mr. Johnson and to Scriptwriter Charlie Schnee; sixty or seventy minutes later, the gunman is caught and the case solved. But, in the meantime, we've been quickly treated to a refresher course in the detection of crime, a glossary of underworld lingo and a couple
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homicide detective, investigates when Ed Monigan, an older member of his precinct (and former partner), is murdered. The fact that he was carrying $ 1,000 in cash confirms it wasn’t robbery, but instead raises the issue of whether he was on the take. Conovan's current partner and one-time mentor,
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Gloria DeHaven was also making a change for her role in the film. She had been known for playing sweet, innocent ingenues, like Johnson in comedies and musicals. It was Schary's decision to cast her as Lili, a cabaret singer who appears at first to have a heart of gold, but turns out to be a
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According to MGM records, the film earned US$ 968,000 (equivalent to $ 12,395,815 in 2023) in the US and Canada and $ 423,000 (equivalent to $ 5,416,766 in 2023) overseas resulting in a profit of $ 151,000 (equivalent to $ 1,933,645 in 2023).
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went "against type". Star Van Johnson was known for appearing in light fare such as comedies and musicals, making him a teen idol, so playing a cop was a complete change for him, and his newly revealed versatility garnered him roles in 1949's
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was the studio head and insisted on producing more realistic films. This is a transitional film from the 1930s gangster film and a forerunner of the modern day TV cop show. It preaches the credo that 'Crime Does Not
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up an ambush. He uses a truck to crash into Turk's armor-plated car, causing it to catch fire. Turk confesses to the murders and clears Monigan before he dies.
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Modern film critic Dennis Schwartz likes the film, writing in 2004: "It is directed in a workman like efficiency by Roy Rowland (
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made a small profit, primarily because of its low production cost, Van Johnson would never make another film noir.
1260: 306:), is getting on in years and his eyesight is failing, while under Conovan's wing rookie detective "C.C." (for " 987: 1275: 298: 1003: 979: 866: 679: 264:, "Smashing the Bookie Gang Marauders". It was the only property sold by Martin to be made into a film. 1131: 1083: 971: 959: 556: 485: 237: 42: 787: 488:
learned the ins and outs of that genre – and the occasional films in the 1930s and 1940s, such as
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specialized in. The exceptions were their series of "Crime Does Not Pay" shorts – where director
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as head of production, the studio began to make darker, more realistic films.
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was originally slated to play the part played in the film by Arlene Dahl.
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informational site and DVD review at DVD Beaver (includes images)
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Out to dispel a theory that Monigan was secretly in cahoots with
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Schwartz, Dennis (2004-10-13) [ "Scene of the Crime" (review).
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Gloria DeHaven's character, Lili, was modeled on stripper
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http://homepages.sover.net/~ozus/sceneofthecrime.htm
559:was a long-time stalwart at MGM, directing shorts, 957: 1202: 764:, 13 October 2004. Retrieved on 2013-07-12 from 279:" few film noirs attempted by MGM. It came when 62:the article "Smashing the Bookie Gang Marauders" 943: 950: 936: 756: 754: 504:returned to MGM in 1948 from his stint at 275:According to film critic Dennis Schwartz: 27: 333:). Conovan's primary informant, Sleeper ( 823: 782: 780: 778: 776: 774: 692: 690: 688: 800: 798: 751: 734: 732: 730: 728: 726: 637:- Best Motion Picture (nominated, 1950) 260:, is based on a non-fiction article by 1203: 931: 771: 685: 668: 666: 664: 662: 795: 723: 628: 540:on TV, a role that went instead to 516:was the result of that transition. 325:), whose ex-boyfriend Turk Kingby ( 13: 659: 14: 1287: 853: 16:1949 American film by Roy Rowland 741:(July 29, 2018) Introduction to 601:In his July 29, 1949 review for 824:Crowther, Bosley (1949-07-29). 1226:American black-and-white films 817: 705: 500:, both released in 1942. Once 1: 1246:Films directed by Roy Rowland 653: 472: 1271:1940s English-language films 1251:Films produced by Harry Rapf 1236:Films scored by AndrĂ© Previn 1004:Our Vines Have Tender Grapes 867:AFI Catalog of Feature Films 680:AFI Catalog of Feature Films 592: 256:. The film's screenplay, by 7: 1084:The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. 788:"Scene of the Crime (1949)" 641: 10: 1292: 1221:American crime drama films 1188:Gunfighters of Casa Grande 376:as Detective "C.C." Gordon 1266:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1020:The Romance of Rosy Ridge 966: 807:(July 29, 2018) Outro to 762:Ozus' World Movie Reviews 582:The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T 314:) is learning the ropes. 293:Lieutenant Mike Conovan ( 217: 209: 201: 193: 183: 159: 149: 133: 123: 113: 103: 81: 71: 58: 48: 38: 33:theatrical release poster 26: 21: 1256:Films set in Los Angeles 1231:American detective films 442:Caleb Peterson as Loomis 1116:Light's Diamond Jubilee 1068:Bugles in the Afternoon 698:The Eddie Mannix Ledger 388:as Detective Fred Piper 382:as Captain A.C. Forster 348: 288: 168:July 28, 1949 1261:Films set in the 1940s 1076:Affair with a Stranger 530:and the offer to play 286: 980:A Night at the Movies 809:Turner Classic Movies 743:Turner Classic Movies 433:Romo Vincent as Hippo 277: 1276:1940s American films 1140:Meet Me in Las Vegas 1132:Many Rivers to Cross 786:Miller, Frank (ndg) 497:Grand Central Murder 176: (New York City) 1172:Seven Hills of Rome 1060:Two Weeks with Love 262:John Bartlow Martin 232:is a 1949 American 143:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 66:John Bartlow Martin 1148:These Wilder Years 1119:(1954, TV special) 1044:Scene of the Crime 1036:Tenth Avenue Angel 988:A Stranger in Town 958:Films directed by 916:Scene of the Crime 907:Scene of the Crime 896:Scene of the Crime 890:TCM Movie Database 885:Scene of the Crime 874:Scene of the Crime 861:Scene of the Crime 830:The New York Times 813:Scene of the Crime 811:' presentation of 747:Scene of the Crime 745:' presentation of 713:Scene of the Crime 674:Scene of the Crime 621:) ... It's filmed 604:The New York Times 546:Scene of the Crime 521:Scene of the Crime 514:Scene of the Crime 439:as Norrie Lorfield 266:Scene of the Crime 229:Scene of the Crime 22:Scene of the Crime 1198: 1197: 1100:Witness to Murder 629:Awards and honors 572:Witness to Murder 412:as Umpire Menafoe 364:as Gloria Conovan 225: 224: 1283: 1216:1949 drama films 1180:The Girl Hunters 952: 945: 938: 929: 928: 919: 848: 847: 845: 844: 821: 815: 802: 793: 784: 769: 758: 749: 736: 721: 709: 703: 701: 694: 683: 670: 577:Barbara Stanwyck 537:The Untouchables 519:The casting for 491:Kid Glove Killer 416:Richard Benedict 406:as Arthur Webson 327:Richard Benedict 244:, and featuring 175: 173: 31: 19: 18: 1291: 1290: 1286: 1285: 1284: 1282: 1281: 1280: 1201: 1200: 1199: 1194: 1092:The Moonlighter 972:Hollywood Party 962: 956: 914: 856: 851: 842: 840: 822: 818: 803: 796: 785: 772: 759: 752: 737: 724: 710: 706: 696: 695: 686: 671: 660: 656: 644: 631: 609:Bosley Crowther 595: 475: 451: 430:as P.J. Pontiac 394:as Bob Herkimer 358:as Mike Conovan 351: 291: 186: 179: 171: 169: 162: 145: 138: 136: 96: 92: 88: 63: 34: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1289: 1279: 1278: 1273: 1268: 1263: 1258: 1253: 1248: 1243: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1196: 1195: 1193: 1192: 1184: 1176: 1168: 1160: 1152: 1144: 1136: 1128: 1120: 1112: 1104: 1096: 1088: 1080: 1072: 1064: 1056: 1048: 1040: 1032: 1024: 1016: 1008: 1000: 992: 984: 976: 967: 964: 963: 955: 954: 947: 940: 932: 926: 925: 911: 903: 892: 881: 870: 869: 855: 854:External links 852: 850: 849: 816: 794: 770: 750: 722: 704: 684: 682: 657: 655: 652: 651: 650: 643: 640: 639: 638: 630: 627: 594: 591: 510:Louis B. Mayer 474: 471: 470: 469: 463: 450: 449: 448:as Lafe Douque 443: 440: 434: 431: 425: 422:Anthony Caruso 419: 418:as Turk Kingby 413: 407: 401: 395: 389: 383: 377: 371: 368:Gloria DeHaven 365: 359: 352: 350: 347: 323:Gloria DeHaven 290: 287: 258:Charles Schnee 246:Gloria DeHaven 223: 222: 219: 215: 214: 211: 207: 206: 203: 199: 198: 195: 191: 190: 187: 184: 181: 180: 178: 177: 165: 163: 160: 157: 156: 151: 150:Distributed by 147: 146: 141: 139: 134: 131: 130: 125: 121: 120: 118:Robert J. Kern 115: 111: 110: 105: 104:Cinematography 101: 100: 90:Gloria DeHaven 83: 79: 78: 73: 69: 68: 60: 56: 55: 53:Charles Schnee 50: 46: 45: 40: 36: 35: 32: 24: 23: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1288: 1277: 1274: 1272: 1269: 1267: 1264: 1262: 1259: 1257: 1254: 1252: 1249: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1208: 1206: 1190: 1189: 1185: 1182: 1181: 1177: 1174: 1173: 1169: 1166: 1165: 1161: 1158: 1157: 1153: 1150: 1149: 1145: 1142: 1141: 1137: 1134: 1133: 1129: 1126: 1125: 1121: 1118: 1117: 1113: 1110: 1109: 1105: 1102: 1101: 1097: 1094: 1093: 1089: 1086: 1085: 1081: 1078: 1077: 1073: 1070: 1069: 1065: 1062: 1061: 1057: 1054: 1053: 1052:The Outriders 1049: 1046: 1045: 1041: 1038: 1037: 1033: 1030: 1029: 1025: 1022: 1021: 1017: 1014: 1013: 1009: 1006: 1005: 1001: 998: 997: 993: 990: 989: 985: 982: 981: 977: 974: 973: 969: 968: 965: 961: 953: 948: 946: 941: 939: 934: 933: 930: 924: 920: 917: 912: 909: 908: 904: 902: 898: 897: 893: 891: 887: 886: 882: 880: 876: 875: 871: 868: 865: 863: 862: 858: 857: 839: 835: 831: 827: 820: 814: 810: 806: 805:Muller, Eddie 801: 799: 792: 789: 783: 781: 779: 777: 775: 767: 763: 757: 755: 748: 744: 740: 739:Muller, Eddie 735: 733: 731: 729: 727: 719: 715: 714: 708: 699: 693: 691: 689: 681: 678: 676: 675: 669: 667: 665: 663: 658: 649: 646: 645: 636: 633: 632: 626: 624: 623:Dragnet style 620: 619: 613: 610: 606: 605: 599: 590: 588: 585:, written by 584: 583: 578: 574: 573: 568: 567: 562: 558: 553: 549: 547: 543: 539: 538: 533: 529: 528: 522: 517: 515: 511: 508:, to replace 507: 503: 499: 498: 493: 492: 487: 483: 479: 468: 464: 461: 458: 457: 456: 455: 447: 446:William Haade 444: 441: 438: 435: 432: 429: 426: 424:as Tony Rutzo 423: 420: 417: 414: 411: 408: 405: 402: 399: 396: 393: 390: 387: 386:John McIntire 384: 381: 378: 375: 372: 369: 366: 363: 360: 357: 354: 353: 346: 342: 340: 336: 332: 331:William Haade 328: 324: 320: 315: 313: 309: 305: 304:John McIntire 300: 296: 285: 282: 276: 273: 271: 268:was producer 267: 263: 259: 255: 251: 247: 243: 239: 235: 231: 230: 220: 216: 212: 208: 204: 200: 197:United States 196: 192: 189:93-95 minutes 188: 182: 167: 166: 164: 158: 155: 152: 148: 144: 140: 132: 129: 126: 122: 119: 116: 112: 109: 108:Paul C. Vogel 106: 102: 99: 95: 91: 87: 84: 80: 77: 74: 70: 67: 61: 57: 54: 51: 49:Screenplay by 47: 44: 41: 37: 30: 25: 20: 1186: 1178: 1170: 1162: 1154: 1146: 1138: 1130: 1124:Hit the Deck 1122: 1114: 1106: 1098: 1090: 1082: 1074: 1066: 1058: 1050: 1043: 1042: 1034: 1028:Killer McCoy 1026: 1018: 1010: 1002: 994: 986: 978: 970: 918:film trailer 915: 906: 895: 884: 873: 860: 841:. Retrieved 829: 819: 812: 761: 746: 712: 707: 697: 673: 616: 614: 602: 600: 596: 580: 570: 564: 554: 550: 545: 544:. Although 542:Robert Stack 535: 527:Battleground 525: 520: 518: 513: 506:RKO Pictures 495: 489: 482:Warner Bros. 476: 467:Lili St. Cyr 453: 452: 404:Jerome Cowan 398:Norman Lloyd 392:Donald Woods 343: 335:Norman Lloyd 316: 302:Fred Piper ( 292: 278: 274: 265: 236:directed by 228: 227: 226: 185:Running time 161:Release date 128:AndrĂ© Previn 1012:Boys' Ranch 960:Roy Rowland 635:Edgar Award 575:, starring 557:Roy Rowland 502:Dore Schary 486:Roy Rowland 437:Tom Helmore 428:Robert Gist 362:Arlene Dahl 356:Van Johnson 339:Arlene Dahl 310:") Gordon ( 308:carbon copy 295:Van Johnson 281:Dore Schary 250:Arlene Dahl 242:Van Johnson 240:, starring 238:Roy Rowland 221:$ 1,391,000 154:Loew's Inc. 94:Arlene Dahl 86:Van Johnson 72:Produced by 43:Roy Rowland 39:Directed by 1211:1949 films 1205:Categories 996:Lost Angel 843:2024-07-17 654:References 532:Eliot Ness 473:Production 460:Donna Reed 454:Cast notes 410:Tom Powers 400:as Sleeper 319:bookmakers 270:Harry Rapf 218:Box office 172:1949-07-28 135:Production 76:Harry Rapf 1241:Film noir 1156:Gun Glory 1108:Rogue Cop 838:0362-4331 648:Film noir 618:Rogue Cop 593:Reception 587:Dr. Seuss 566:Rogue Cop 555:Director 380:Leon Ames 374:Tom Drake 312:Tom Drake 254:Tom Drake 234:film noir 213:$ 761,000 114:Edited by 98:Tom Drake 901:AllMovie 642:See also 561:B-movies 202:Language 124:Music by 82:Starring 59:Based on 1164:Slander 923:YouTube 888:at the 864:at the 791:TCM.com 677:at the 370:as Lili 205:English 194:Country 170: ( 137:company 1191:(1964) 1183:(1962) 1175:(1958) 1167:(1957) 1159:(1957) 1151:(1956) 1143:(1956) 1135:(1955) 1127:(1955) 1111:(1954) 1103:(1954) 1095:(1953) 1087:(1953) 1079:(1953) 1071:(1952) 1063:(1950) 1055:(1950) 1047:(1949) 1039:(1948) 1031:(1947) 1023:(1947) 1015:(1946) 1007:(1945) 999:(1943) 991:(1943) 983:(1937) 975:(1934) 836:  284:Pay'." 252:, and 210:Budget 297:), a 879:IMDb 834:ISSN 718:IMDb 569:and 494:and 349:Cast 299:LAPD 289:Plot 921:on 899:at 877:at 716:at 534:in 478:MGM 64:by 1207:: 832:. 828:. 797:^ 773:^ 753:^ 725:^ 687:^ 661:^ 607:, 589:. 248:, 951:e 944:t 937:v 846:. 768:. 720:. 702:. 174:)

Index


Roy Rowland
Charles Schnee
John Bartlow Martin
Harry Rapf
Van Johnson
Gloria DeHaven
Arlene Dahl
Tom Drake
Paul C. Vogel
Robert J. Kern
André Previn
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Loew's Inc.
film noir
Roy Rowland
Van Johnson
Gloria DeHaven
Arlene Dahl
Tom Drake
Charles Schnee
John Bartlow Martin
Harry Rapf
Dore Schary
Van Johnson
LAPD
John McIntire
carbon copy
Tom Drake
bookmakers

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