Review of The Crime of the Century

Crime of the Century "Alienist" (thats the term they use) arrives at the police station asking to be locked up. It seems that as well as being able to get people and criminals to confess he thinks he's come up with a way to get people to do evil things. He's come up with the idea of getting some one to commit a robbery and then kill them to cover the crime. Afraid he'd do it he's gone to get himself locked up. The police think he's mad and the police Captain takes him home. From there the tale spins out in a story of murder and robbery. Despite the lofty title the film is neither the film of the century and the crimes in it don't make up the crime either. An okay mystery the film bogs down with some performances that just seemed flat. Jean Hersholt (You know him best for the ward given at the Oscars every year) is good as the frantic alienist, as is the woman playing his daughter, however the police and the reporter seem to to really care. How can I get excited about mystery when the people charged with solving it are so low key, I mean their well written dialog which is full of snappy one liners just sort of lays there.It's an okay film, I just wish it was better