bkoganbing
Just Off Broadway an entry in the Michael Shayne film series has Lloyd Nolan sitting on a jury in a murder case where the beautiful Janis Carter is on trial for
killing her fiance. How given his line of work he got on a jury is beyond me, but
there he is.Things really get interesting when a witness tesitfying is killed with a thrown
knife from the rear of the courtroom. Why the cops also can't come to the
conclusion that only an expert could have made such a throw is also beyond me.Not particularly happy with how the defense is going Nolan when sequestered
for the evening sneaks out and with Lois Lane like reporter Marjorie Weaver and in a few hours he gathers what evidence he needs to unmask the real
killer. In terms of the criminal justice system this is all patent nonsense. But Nolan
and the rest of the cast keep the nonsense moving along quite nicely with some snappy dialog. You won't believe who the real killer is.Phil Silvers abrasive comic style is put to good use as a nosy news photographer Nolan and Weaver have to keep dodging.In the end no good deed goes unpunished for Michael Shayne. Watch and see
what I mean.
dougdoepke
Okay entry in Michael Shayne series. Mike works to clear innocent woman Hubbard (Carter) from a murder charge. And catch that sudden knife toss across a packed courtroom. The victim could have cleared Hubbard, but no longer. Now Mike's got to really dig, with the help (sort of) of spunky girl reporter Taylor (Weaver). Adding real spark is the inimitable Phil Silvers in an early role as a big personality photographer. Seems to me that Nolan's more subdued than usual, but he's always a strong presence anyway.The storyline is pretty packed so you may need a scorecard to keep up with dolphin pins and custom made knives. Speaking of sharp edges, how did production finesse Telmachio's knife throwing act. I can't see them really letting a girl's live edges serve as the thrower's target. Oh well, it is well done, however they did it. Still, I had trouble telling Weaver and Carter apart since they're almost look-alikes —was that intentional, I wonder. Also, take a look at the huge windowless walls of the supposed warehouse that appears about halfway through. From their looks I'll bet they're outside walls of TCF soundstages. If so, the cast didn't have far to go. All in all, the 60- minutes remains an average entry in the often delightful Shayne series. And should you happen to miss a favorite Perry Mason, then give this courtroom drama a look-see.
gridoon2018
....as a jury member, mind you. And despite the fact that he's not getting paid by anyone, he takes it upon himself to clear the glamorous defendant Janis Carter from a murder charge. But to do that he has to sneak out of the hotel where the jurors are required to stay - and avoid a pestering freelance photographer. The murder plot is far too murky to fit into just 65 minutes, but the film has entertaining bits of comedy, some smart lines ("I tried counting sheep to go to sleep, but they got so tired that they couldn't jump the fence"), and a spirited sidekick for Shayne (Marjorie Weaver, in her third and best appearance in this series - in three different roles). The climax is either audacious or ridiculous, depending on your point of view: Shayne steps down from the jury box, shoves the lawyers aside and starts asking questions directly to the witnesses! The judge allows all this to happen, and THEN, after Shayne has solved the case, sends him to jail for contempt of court! Incidentally, the title has nothing to do with the film. **1/2 out of 4.
The_Dying_Flutchman
Fast and furious "B" courtesy of Lloyd Nolan's unstoppable for very long Mike Shayne, private, I guess, detective. Murder abounds most foul, but you can be readily assured in this instance the butler didn't do it. Courtroom highjinks are just the beginning of the fun as Mike bothered by brunette reporter with occasional appearances by photographer buddy played by Phil Silvers in early "Sargent Bilco" mode, investigates in the wings of the local Ed Sullivan theater searching for a knife throwing contingency. After 2 or 3 conks on the head, sped up fist fights, being saved by bruised brunette more times than was needed, Mike is finally free to hunt down the master maniac. Imagine the surprise when we find out courtrooms are often like outhouses, full of stuff we'd rather not see, let alone smell.The adventures of Mike Shayne weren't huge moneymakers for 20th Century Fox, in the detecting arena that role was filled by the ever scrutable Charlie Chan. Suffice it to say, this caper "Just Off Broadway" wasn't the best sparkler in the series, but an OK time waster in the 60 minute market. The method of death here can not be expected to be any "knife in the water".
AD
