Writer Alton Bennett tells his psychiatrist about his recurring dream of killing his wife with a perfume bottle. It seems obvious that he is setting up a murder with "somnambulism" as an alibi. He would then inherit his wife's priceless (valued at $100,000) jewels. He is short of money - perhaps his novels aren't doing so well. He supports the wife and a large house with staff - or is she paying for it all?
The staff have a scene of their own where they establish themselves as more than just a pair of hands taking a coat or handing a cup of coffee.
Whatever Bennett's plans, his wife is found dead - clouted with the perfume bottle - and her jewels gone. Then it all gets rather complicated. Others have set the scene with Dorothy Lamour and Dan Duryea in the apartment house, and Sterling Hayden as the insurance investigator. The last two "help" the police - hovering as Lamour is interrogated in the middle of a busy office. What's going on?
The police are buffoons, contributing a lot of unfunny byplay which doesn't belong in a film noir. But it's great to see Duryea going through his ratbag performance one more time. He's usually the one found dead in an alley - not this time. But that was where he made a mistake...
The staff have a scene of their own where they establish themselves as more than just a pair of hands taking a coat or handing a cup of coffee.
Whatever Bennett's plans, his wife is found dead - clouted with the perfume bottle - and her jewels gone. Then it all gets rather complicated. Others have set the scene with Dorothy Lamour and Dan Duryea in the apartment house, and Sterling Hayden as the insurance investigator. The last two "help" the police - hovering as Lamour is interrogated in the middle of a busy office. What's going on?
The police are buffoons, contributing a lot of unfunny byplay which doesn't belong in a film noir. But it's great to see Duryea going through his ratbag performance one more time. He's usually the one found dead in an alley - not this time. But that was where he made a mistake...