I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Steve Fisher (novel)
Dwight Taylor (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Mystery

Plot:

Why is Inspector Ed Cornell trying to railroad Frankie Christopher for the murder of model Vicky Lynn?

Plot Keywords:

Switchboard Operator | Beautiful Woman | Swimming | Poison | Murphy Bed

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Jill Lynn
Victor Mature	...	Frankie Christopher (Botticelli)
Carole Landis	...	Vicky Lynn
Laird Cregar	...	Police Insp. Ed Cornell
William Gargan	...	Jerry 'Mac' MacDonald
Alan Mowbray	...	Robin Ray
Allyn Joslyn	...	Larry Evans
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Harry Williams
Chick Chandler	...	Reporter
Cyril Ring	...	Reporter
Morris Ankrum	...	Assistant District Attorney
Charles Lane	...	Keating, Florist
Frank Orth	...	Cemetery Caretaker
Gregory Gaye	...	Headwaiter
May Beatty	...	Lady Handel (as Mae Beatty)

Also Known As:

Hot Spot (UK) (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System) | Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7647) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-16 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

According to the DVD, this film was originally titled ‘Hot Spot’ and a title sequence was shot using this (included on the DVD without music), but subsequently dropped in favor of ‘I Wake Up Screaming’. However, the title ‘Hot Spot’ was retained for its UK release and British prints incorporate the original title sequence.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the nightclub scene, Frankie removes a price tag from Vicky's glove that wasn't in previous shots.

Quotes:

Jill Lynn: What's the good of living without hope?
Ed Cornell: It can be done.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Things I Love

Excellent Film Noir

There's a lot to like about this Film Noir: excellent use of shadows (some spectacular patterns), Victor Mature's best acting role, Carole Landis' (who's both a better actress & prettier than Betty Grable) juicy part, Laird Cregar in one of the best scary roles of his too short career, & a strong plot. For cheesecake fans: yes, you do get to see Betty's great legs in a swimming pool scene that seems to have been incorporated into this film for just that purpose. For beefcake fans: yes, you do get to see Victor's chest in the same swimming pool scene. So everyone should have something to be happy about. There's lots of suspects here (five solid ones) to choose from, & I got it wrong, so the film gets an extra point for that. I rate it 9/10.