gavin6942
Detective Michael Shayne (Lloyd Nolan) and his girlfriend Joanne (Mary Beth Hughes) are on their way to be married when a scream from a nearby hotel room draws his attention to a pair of theatrical murders.This was the fourth in a series of Michael Shayne detective films. The first seven were made by 20th Century Fox and starred Lloyd Nolan. The final five were made by Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) and starred Hugh Beaumont. There were also three radio shows (1944–1953) and a television series (1960–1961) based on the Michael Shayne character.Interesting racial stereotypes, with Otto Han as a Japanese servant with poor English skills and the humorous Mantan Moreland (who was in "King of the Zombies" this same year).
dougdoepke
Despite some notable features, this programmer fails to rise above standard detective shows of the time. Nonetheless, the opening scene is a hoot, as a double-breasted Shayne (Nolan) gets harassed by an aggressive clothing salesman. In fact, Nolan's the best thing about the film. His fast-talking brash personality holds a center of attention. I'm just sorry we don't see more of Mary Beth Hughes whose brassy personality is a perfect foil for her meandering fiancée, Shayne. Then there're two exotics from the period—creepy Milton Parsons (Max) in a beard no less, plus snooty Henry Daniell (Julian) getting sympathetic treatment for a change.That initial murder scene remains a grabber. The dog's head plopped onto one of the corpses is like nothing I've seen and shows real imagination. The trouble, for me at least, is that the whodunit part never really gels, despite clever touches with the murder weapon. At the same time, the pacing is uneven, better suited at times to character study than to plot. There's also the standard dumb cop humor, plus Mantan Moreland doing his familiar bug-eyed comedic bit.All in all, it's an unexceptional entry, mainly for fans of Nolan, myself included.
GManfred
"Dressed To Kill" was an excellent murder mystery and the third entry in the Michael Shayne detective series of the 40's. It is the first one I've seen and I enjoyed the way Lloyd Nolan fit the title character like an old shoe. It had a great supporting cast and a story to match, unlike many B murder mysteries of this era which are often formulaic and predictable.This one took considerable thought, and both the denouement and deus ex machina are pretty clever. Shane/Nolan has to solve a double murder in which the victims are killed at a dinner table with two different guns, and along the way we get to meet some very interesting characters, played by some very interesting character actors. We also find out that he knows nearly everybody within shouting distance, which is a formidable number of people as this is New York City. It creates a cheerfully amiable atmosphere, despite the grumpy Chief Inspector, played by William Demarest in his customary bombastic style. Also on hand is Henry Daniell as a theatrical snob, and Mary Beth Hughes, maybe the prettiest B picture girl who never made the jump to more important pictures.I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think I will buy the Shayne collection selling on Amazon. Always appreciate good, solid movie-making and "Dressed To Kill" is a sterling example. It played on FMC the other morning.
JohnHowardReid
If ever a "B" could be said to have a surfeit of production values that movie is Dressed To Kill, the third in the seven-picture Fox series (that was then taken over for a further five films by Producers Releasing Corp). Just look at that cast! It's so richly extensive in name players that some of the top-billed people like Sheila Ryan are in and out before you can blink an eye. Mary Beth Hughes' fans are not well served either as she has an unsympathetic role (which she plays well). On the other hand, Mr Nolan exerts his fulsome presence in almost every scene and does his level best to squeeze the other players out of the action. Fortunately, it's mighty hard to steal scenes from a master of slapstick like William Demarest (the bit in which he falls into the orchestra pit is a hoot!) and director Eugene Forde is also on hand to see that actors like Henry Daniell get a fair shake. Forde even slows down his admirably fast pacing on occasions to allow his players time to breathe. Mystery fans will be pleased to note that the identity of the killer is very cleverly (but not unfairly) concealed. Beautiful camera-work and great sets add to the movie's appeal. In short, a most entertaining "B" that will appeal to everyone who can at least tolerate Lloyd Nolan.
AD
