Death of a Scoundrel *** (1956, George Sanders, Yvonne De Carlo, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Coleen Gray, Victor Jory, Nancy Gates, John Hoyt, Tom Conway) – Classic Movie Review 10,079

Writer-producer-director Charles Martin’s 1956 film Death of a Scoundrel stars George Sanders as scoundrel Euro-conman Clementi Sabourin (‘our plan is to buy companies that are in financial trouble and then build them up’), who steps over a series of women on his way to success in the United States. New York police come to investigate when Czech immigrant Sabourin is found dead and they question Bridget Kelly (Yvonne De Carlo), who found the body.

This interesting film noir crime drama is based on the fictionalised true story of playboy stock and currency manipulator Serge Rubinstein (18 May 1908 – 27 January 1955). Rubinstein’s murder was one of the biggest news stories of 1955.

Death of a Scoundrel is a family affair. Co-star Zsa Zsa Gabor was Sanders’s wife (they married in 1949 and divorced in 1954) and his brother Tom Conway also appears. This and The Falcon’s Brother (1942) are the only two films to feature brothers Sanders and Conway, who play brothers each time.

Sanders is ideally cast in this intriguing hothouse little mix that largely succeeds despite the cheap Charles Martin Productions/ RKO production. It helps the quality that there is a good cast and that there are excellent credits in the cinematography (James Wong Howe) and score (Max Steiner).

The cast also includes Zsa Zsa Gabor as Mrs Ryan, Victor Jory as Leonard Wilson, Nancy Gates as Stephanie North, Coleen Gray as Edith van Renssalaer, John Hoyt as O’Hara, Lisa Ferraday as Zina Monte, Tom Conway as Gerry Monte Sabourin, Celia Lovsky as Mrs. Sabourin, Werner Klemperer as Herbert Bauman, Justice Watson as Henry, John Sutton, Curtis Cooksey, Gabriel Curtiz, Morris Ankrum and George Brent.

George Sanders replaced George Brent who took ill after filming a large party scene with many extras. The producers left the scene with him visible in the film to avoid a costly re-shoot.

Death of a Scoundrel is directed by Charles Martin, runs 119 minutes, is made by Charles Martin Productions, is released by RKO Radio Pictures (1956), is written by Charles Martin, is shot in black and white by James Wong Howe, is produced by Charles Martin, is scored by Max Steiner, and is designed by Rudi Feld.

It was shot in January 1956 at Samuel Goldwyn Studios, 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California.

It was advertised as ‘Men, Women… he used them, ruined them on his fantastic march to self-destruction.’

It was released on 5 November 1956 (US).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,079

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com