City of Missing Girls (1941)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Elmer Clifton

Writers:

Elmer Clifton (story)
Oliver Drake (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

TALENT SCHOOL RACKET EXPOSED!

Plot:

Climaxing a long series of mysterious disappearances of young girls, dancer Thalia Arnold is found murdered...

Plot Keywords:

District Attorney | Racket | Nightclub | Apartment | Telephone

Cast

H.B. Warner	...	Police Capt. "Mac" McVeigh
Astrid Allwyn	...	Nora Page
John Archer	...	Assistant D.A. James J. Horton
Sarah Padden	...	Mrs. Randolph
Philip Van Zandt	...	King Peterson
George Rosener	...	Police Officer 'Copper' Dugan
Kathryn Crawford	...	Helen Whitney (as Katherine Crawford)
Patricia Knox	...	Kate Nelson
Walter Long	...	Police Officer Larkin
Gale Storm	...	Mary Phillips (as Gail Storm)
Boyd Irwin	...	Joseph 'Joe' Thompson
Danny Webb	...	William 'Bill' Short, Photographer

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7054)

Company:

Select Attractions Inc.

Quotes:

Kate Nelson: Make yourself comfortable. I've got a lot of things on my chest I think you might be interested in.
Assistant D.A. James J. Horton: That remains to be seen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Mechanic (1972)

Intriguing H. B. Warner Vehicle

Having seen H. B. Warner as a character player in dozens of films, i was pleasantly surprised to see him starring in this crime-exploitation film about the white slave trade. I was also deeply impressed with his ability to carry the complex role of a poetic, philosophical police captain on the verge of retirement with such presence during the course of what otherwise would seem to have been destined to be a routine crime drama.

Alas, being a post-code movie, the white slave trade aspect of the plot is only understandable as a subtext, but there are plenty of other intriguing moments in the movie that will make B-film enthusiasts sit up and say, "Wow." For me, the gymnastic dance featuring a pair of uncredited twin teen girls was one such moment. Where did they FIND such unusual talent? Who were those young, incredibly athletic, giggling twins? We'll probably never know.

And then there was the scene in which H. B. Warner, previously seeming to be frail, distracted, and ready for the scrap heap of life, suddenly LEAPED INTO THE AIR and jumped into his bed feet first! What the heck!? That was truly replay-worthy.

This is not a great film, of course, but since it is available at bargain prices, old film buffs will certainly get their money's worth if they take the time to seek it out and watch it.