Destination Murder
Encyclopedia
Destination Murder is an American crime
film noir
directed by Edward L. Cahn. The drama features Joyce Mackenzie, Stanley Clements
and Hurd Hatfield
.
Critic Hans J. Wollstein also panned the film, writing, "In Destination Murder, former starlet Myrna Dell plays one of those hard-bitten, blonde schemers that no true film noir could be without. Unfortunately, both she and Stanley Clements, the only other interesting character in the film, are killed off fairly early on in the game. The result is a rather unsatisfying crime thriller where the 'Why?' is more of a mystery than the 'Who?'"
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
directed by Edward L. Cahn. The drama features Joyce Mackenzie, Stanley Clements
Stanley Clements
Stanley Clements was an American actor and comedian.Stanley Clements was born Stanislaw Klimowicz in Long Island, New York. Young Stan realized that he wanted a show-business career while he was in grammar school, and when he graduated from college he toured in vaudeville for two years...
and Hurd Hatfield
Hurd Hatfield
William Rukard Hurd Hatfield was an American actor.-Biography:The son of William Henry Hatfield , an attorney who served as deputy attorney general for New York, and his wife, the former Adele Steele, Hatfield was born in New York City, and was educated at Columbia University before travelling to...
.
Cast
- Joyce Mackenzie as Laura Mansfield
- Stanley ClementsStanley ClementsStanley Clements was an American actor and comedian.Stanley Clements was born Stanislaw Klimowicz in Long Island, New York. Young Stan realized that he wanted a show-business career while he was in grammar school, and when he graduated from college he toured in vaudeville for two years...
as Jackie Wales - Hurd HatfieldHurd HatfieldWilliam Rukard Hurd Hatfield was an American actor.-Biography:The son of William Henry Hatfield , an attorney who served as deputy attorney general for New York, and his wife, the former Adele Steele, Hatfield was born in New York City, and was educated at Columbia University before travelling to...
as Stretch Norton - Albert DekkerAlbert DekkerAlbert Dekker was an American character actor and politician best known for his roles in Dr. Cyclops, The Killers, Kiss Me Deadly, and The Wild Bunch. He is sometimes credited as Albert Van Dekker or Albert van Dekker...
as Armitage - Myrna Dell as Alice Wentworth
- James FlavinJames FlavinJames William Flavin, Jr. was an American character actor whose career lasted nearly half a century.-Life and career:...
as Police Lt. Brewster - John DehnerJohn DehnerJohn Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
as Frank Niles - Richard Emory as Police Sgt. Mulcahy
- Norma Vance as Fran, Inebriated Lady
- Suzette Harbin as Harriett, Nightclub Maid
- Buddy SwanBuddy SwanPaul B. "Buddy" Swan was an American child actor, best known for playing the title character of Citizen Kane as an eight-year-old boy....
as Arthur - Blue Streak Messenger - Bert Wenland as Dave, Blue Streak Messenger
- Franklyn FarnumFranklyn FarnumWilliam Smith , better known by his screen name, Franklyn Farnum, was an American character actor and Hollywood extra who appeared in 433 productions between the years 1916 and 1961....
as Arthur Mansfield, Laura's Father - Steve Gibson as Leader of Redcap Singing Group
- Steve Gibson's Redcaps as Singing Group
Reception
Film critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a mixed review, writing, "A snappy B-film crime thriller from RKO that is only enjoyable because the story is so quirky. Unfortunately, it is burdened with a convoluted plot and an undeveloped character study. Edward L. Cahn plays it safe in his direction, as he hints of a homosexual relationship between the two main criminals but fails to pursue that avenue of thought. There are also many scenes and situations that seem hokey and hardly credible, as the action not only looks fake but the actors seem to have no energy to even fake the scenes with some enthusiasm."Critic Hans J. Wollstein also panned the film, writing, "In Destination Murder, former starlet Myrna Dell plays one of those hard-bitten, blonde schemers that no true film noir could be without. Unfortunately, both she and Stanley Clements, the only other interesting character in the film, are killed off fairly early on in the game. The result is a rather unsatisfying crime thriller where the 'Why?' is more of a mystery than the 'Who?'"
External links
- Destination Murder preview clip at You Tube (Warner Bros.Warner Bros.Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Archive Collection)