Criminal Court *** (1946, Tom Conway, Martha O’Driscoll, Robert Armstrong, Addison Richards, June Clayworth) – Classic Movie Review 5295

Director Robert Wise’s 1946 mystery thriller is an excellent, short (64 minutes) little B-movie crime programmer from the RKO Radio Pictures studio.

Tom Conway stars as lawyer Stephen Barnes who accidentally shoots dead a bent gangster bar boss and is forced to reveal in court that he is guilty when his girlfriend Georgia Gale (Martha O’Driscoll), a singer in the nightclub bar, is accused of the murder after she finds the body.

This is a particularly tasty early work from director Wise, who tells Earl Felton’s extravagant story with relish and at lightning speed.

It is shot in black and white by cinematographer Frank Redman, the screenplay is by Lawrence Kimble, it is produced by Sid Rogell and Martin Mooney, it is scored by Paul Sawtell and it is set designed by Albert S D’Agostino.

Also in the cast are Robert Armstrong, Addison Richards, June Clayworth, Pat Gleason, Steve Brodie, Robert Warwick, Phil Warren, Joseph E Bernard, Joe Devlin, Harry Harvey Jr, Lee Bonnell, Robert Clarke, Tony Barrett, Mike Lally, Carl Hansen, Max Rose, Tommy Noonan, Robert Smith, Sam Flint, Jason Robards Sr, Dick Rush, Jack Gordon Joe Gray and Stanley Blystone.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5295

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