Scene of the Crime (1949 film)
Encyclopedia
Scene of the Crime is a 1949 film noir starring Van Johnson
as a Los Angeles police detective.
) investigates when a former partner is found murdered and carrying $1,000 in cash.
Out to dispel a theory that the dead cop was secretly in cahoots with crooks, Conovan's trail leads to a stripper, Lili (Gloria DeHaven
), whose ex-boyfriend Turk (Richard Benedict
) has apparently pulled off a robbery with a man named Lafe (William Haade
).
Conovan tracks down Lafe and places him under arrest, but just outside the police station, gun shots ring out, killing Lafe and wounding the detective. Conovan is convinced by his wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl
) that police work is too dangerous. He agrees and tenders his resignation.
Lili calls headquarters with a tip for Conovan on where Turk can be found. Detective Fred Piper (John McIntire
) intercepts the messge, investigates it himself and is gunned down.
Conovan concludes that Lili has been double-crossing him, secretly helping Turk all along. Over the objections of his wife, he gets his old job back with the police force.
Turk attempts to pull off an armed robbery, but Conovan gives chase. His vehicle crashes into Turk's, causing it to catch fire. Turk confesses to the murders before he dies.
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
as a Los Angeles police detective.
Plot
Detective Mike Conovan (Van JohnsonVan Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
) investigates when a former partner is found murdered and carrying $1,000 in cash.
Out to dispel a theory that the dead cop was secretly in cahoots with crooks, Conovan's trail leads to a stripper, Lili (Gloria DeHaven
Gloria DeHaven
Gloria Mildred DeHaven is an American actress and a former contract star for MGM.-Early life and career:DeHaven was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actor-director Carter DeHaven and actress Flora Parker DeHaven, both former vaudeville performers.She began her career as a child...
), whose ex-boyfriend Turk (Richard Benedict
Richard Benedict
Richard "Pepe" Benedict was an Italian-born television and film actor and director.He appeared in dozens of television programs and movies from the 1940s to the 1960s, most notably Ace in the Hole , directed by Billy Wilder...
) has apparently pulled off a robbery with a man named Lafe (William Haade
William Haade
William Haade was an American film actor. He appeared in over 250 films between 1937 and 1957.He was born in New York, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* The Invisible Menace...
).
Conovan tracks down Lafe and places him under arrest, but just outside the police station, gun shots ring out, killing Lafe and wounding the detective. Conovan is convinced by his wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl
Arlene Dahl
Arlene Carol Dahl is an American actress and former MGM contract star, who achieved notability during the 1950s. She is the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early years:...
) that police work is too dangerous. He agrees and tenders his resignation.
Lili calls headquarters with a tip for Conovan on where Turk can be found. Detective Fred Piper (John McIntire
John McIntire
John McIntire was an American character actor.-Career:The craggy-faced film actor was born in Spokane in eastern Washington State but reared in Montana, growing up around ranchers and cowboys, an experience that would later inspire his performances in dozens of westerns.A graduate of USC, McIntire...
) intercepts the messge, investigates it himself and is gunned down.
Conovan concludes that Lili has been double-crossing him, secretly helping Turk all along. Over the objections of his wife, he gets his old job back with the police force.
Turk attempts to pull off an armed robbery, but Conovan gives chase. His vehicle crashes into Turk's, causing it to catch fire. Turk confesses to the murders before he dies.
Cast
- Van JohnsonVan JohnsonVan Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
as Mike Conovan - Arlene DahlArlene DahlArlene Carol Dahl is an American actress and former MGM contract star, who achieved notability during the 1950s. She is the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early years:...
as Gloria Conovan - Gloria DeHavenGloria DeHavenGloria Mildred DeHaven is an American actress and a former contract star for MGM.-Early life and career:DeHaven was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actor-director Carter DeHaven and actress Flora Parker DeHaven, both former vaudeville performers.She began her career as a child...
as Lili - Tom DrakeTom DrakeTom Drake , born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice in Brooklyn, New York, was an American actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances....
as Detective C.C. Gordon - Leon AmesLeon Ames (actor)Leon Ames was an American film and television actor. He is best remembered for playing fatherly figures in such films as Meet Me in St. Louis , as Judy Garland's father, and in Little Women ....
as Captain A.C. Forster - John McIntireJohn McIntireJohn McIntire was an American character actor.-Career:The craggy-faced film actor was born in Spokane in eastern Washington State but reared in Montana, growing up around ranchers and cowboys, an experience that would later inspire his performances in dozens of westerns.A graduate of USC, McIntire...
as Detective Fred Piper - Donald WoodsDonald Woods (actor)Donald Woods was a Canadian-born American film and television actor whose career spanned six decades....
as Bob Herkimer - Norman LloydNorman LloydNorman Lloyd is an American actor, producer, and director with a career in entertainment spanning more than seven decades. Lloyd, who currently resides in Los Angeles, has appeared in over sixty films and television shows....
as Sleeper - Jerome CowanJerome CowanJerome Palmer Cowan was an American film and television actor. At eighteen he joined a travelling stock company, shortly afterwards enlisting in the navy in World War I. After the war he returned to the stage and became a vaudeville headliner, then gained success on the New York stage...
as Arthur Webson - Tom PowersTom PowersTom Powers was an American stage and film actor. He was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA and died in Hollywood, California, of heart disease.- Career :...
as Umpire Menafoe - Richard BenedictRichard BenedictRichard "Pepe" Benedict was an Italian-born television and film actor and director.He appeared in dozens of television programs and movies from the 1940s to the 1960s, most notably Ace in the Hole , directed by Billy Wilder...
as Turk Kingby - Anthony CarusoAnthony Caruso (actor)Anthony Caruso was an American character actor in over 100 American films, usually playing villains, including the First Season of Walt Disney's Zorro as Don Juan Ortega...
as Tony Rutzo - Robert GistRobert GistRobert Gist was an American actor and film director. He was married to actress Agnes Moorehead from 1954 to 1958, although they separated in 1955. They met during the filming of The Stratton Story .- Biography :...
as P.J. Pontiac - Romo Vincent as Hippo
- Tom HelmoreTom HelmoreTom Helmore was an English film actor. He appeared in over 50 films between 1927 and 1972, including three directed by Alfred Hitchcock.He was born in London and died in Longboat Key, Florida.-Selected filmography:...
as Norrie Lorfield - Caleb Peterson as Loomis
- William HaadeWilliam HaadeWilliam Haade was an American film actor. He appeared in over 250 films between 1937 and 1957.He was born in New York, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* The Invisible Menace...
as Lafe Douque