Rather dismal attempt by RKO to turn supporting star(and perennial heavy)George Raft into a leading man in the league of Bogart and Cagney. Raft doesn't have the dimensions to be a leading man, here playing a police detective getting into hot water with his superiors while trying to solve the murder of a famous, womanizing composer. The film looks pretty good despite a cramped budget, but it's so lethargic that when Raft comes across a hanging man, he doesn't even react. The plot is convoluted and cluttered up with potential killers that one loses interest in the outcome long before it arrives. As for Raft, he's as unconvincing planting a wet one on the dame as is he portraying a good guy who still lives with Mom(!). It's a second-string murder-mystery without the proper goods. *1/2 from ****
Review of Nocturne
