"Mystery Street" (1950) is an odd title to find on commercial DVD. True, it's an "A"-feature from M-G-M, but it's what we in the trade used to call "a double bill movie." In other words, it's a film that had little selling power and needed strong support, preferably from another "A" attraction. Its New York showcase was the Palace where it ran a pre-set week supporting a live vaudeville bill. The cast list is as long as your arm, but the leads – Ricardo Montalban, Sally Forrest (top-billed, despite her small role), Bruce Bennett (giving a rather off-hand performance), Elsa Lanchester (at her best!), and the well-cast Marshall Thompson – hardly qualify as box office draws. The movie's one memorable portrait comes from Jan Sterling, who is featured in the trailer, but not by name. Connoisseurs will also enjoy an excellent study by Betsy Blair as an unwilling witness. For DVD sales, the major selling point is that it's a film noir – and photographed by master of the genre, John Alton. Actual on-location lensing adds to the undeniable mood of suspense and helps paper over some really gaping holes in the plot.
Review of Mystery Street
