Come for the
stunt casting, stay for a great movie.
.
Dick Powell
was the essential Movie Musical “Juvenile”.
In many a musical (and all of the Busby Berkeley extravaganzas of the
1930s) there is a male and female juvenile.
They are usually the B-story lover interests. Often younger, cuter and designed to bring in
the youth audience. Dick Powell had a
corner on this role for a decade. Such a
corner, he was horribly typecast into the part and unable to get out of it.
.
Murder My
Sweet was his ticket out. A good little Raymond
Chandler story (it’s a quick read and well worth it), it was worked into a
great Film Noir piece here. Dick Powell
plays Philip Marlowe, hard drinking detective.
Here he provides the signature voice over, copied by the studio as they
tried to “fix” Blade Runner.
.
 |
| Mike Muzurki and Dick Powell |
Marlow is
visited by Moose (character actor Mike Muzurki – who you will recognize from a
zillion shows), fresh out of jail. Moose
hires him to find “Velma”, the girl he pined for in the joint. She skipped town with his heart and his money.
 |
| Dad, Ann Shirley and Dick Powell |
.
 |
| with Claire Trevor |
Murder is
(or should be) also famous as the last movie of Anne Shirley – the gorgeous
enjanouis. Ms. Shirley was coming off
an Oscar Nomination (as the daughter in Stella Dallas – which will NOT be
making this list). She retired after
this, having remarried and wanting to give up the business for a quiet life.
.
Like
I said, there are a lot of reasons – from a historical point of view – to see
this movie. But once it gets going, all
that fades away. It is a first rate
mystery and fun to boot.