Don't miss out on this captivating picture! "Mystery Street" seamlessly combines elements of film noir and docudrama, showcasing a brilliant and understated performance by the exceptionally talented Ricardo Montalban in the role of a Cape Cod detective investigating a murder. The film's commitment to authenticity is evident through its on-location shooting in Cape Cod and Boston, lending a genuine atmosphere to the story. Renowned cinematographer John Alton, celebrated for his mastery of noir aesthetics, contributes to the film's visual brilliance. A closer look at the DVD commentary reveals the remarkable number of stunning shots present in this cinematic gem.
One of the unique aspects of "Mystery Street" is its departure from the conventional noir script. The narrative introduces Lieutenant Morales, the protagonist portrayed by Montalban, approximately 20 minutes into the story. Prior to that, the audience becomes acquainted with the circumstances surrounding the crime. In this expository sequence, we meet the victim, Vivian, a barmaid played by Jan Sterling. Vivian, pregnant with the child of Harkley, a respected married businessman on Cape Cod, seeks a meeting to secure financial support.
The plot takes an intriguing turn when Vivian assists Henry Shamway, an ordinary man drowning his sorrows after his wife's miscarriage, in moving his illegally parked car. Unbeknownst to Shamway, Vivian manipulates the situation and drives both of them towards Cape Cod while he remains inebriated. Just as Shamway begins to regain sobriety, Vivian tricks him into exiting the car momentarily, pretending to let him take the wheel, and leaves him stranded in the middle of nowhere.
In a shocking turn of events, Harkley cold-bloodedly murders Vivian by shooting her at point-blank range while she converses with him in Shamway's car. To further intensify the scene's impact, Harkley embraces and kisses the lifeless barmaid, deceiving two passing motorists into thinking everything is normal. Harkley proceeds to bury the body near the ocean, with the skeletal remains later discovered in a sand dune.
Montalban's portrayal of Lieutenant Morales distinguishes him from the archetypal noir detective. Not only does Morales hail from a non-American background, but he also maintains a composed and objective demeanor throughout his investigation. While Morales assumes the role of the film's protagonist, he avoids becoming the hapless male patsy frequently seen in noir films, and he remains unaffected by the allure of a femme fatale. Instead, it is Shamway, the unsuspecting victim, who falls prey to the conniving Vivian.
Lt. Morales enlists the assistance of the pathology department at the Harvard University Medical School, where viewers are treated to a riveting display of forensic investigation. Utilizing a slide projector, they skillfully match a picture of the skull with a missing person's photograph, showcasing a level of Crime Scene Investigation far ahead of its time. The forensic examination delves deeper as the investigators locate the submerged car where the murder took place, retrieve it from a pond, and trace the trajectory of the fatal bullet. However, it is only after Morales realizes that the victim was indeed murdered that Shamway's innocence is established.
One memorable scene unfolds as Morales interrogates Shamway's wife at their home, seeking information about canceled checks. The wife, expertly portrayed by Sally Forrest, gradually succumbs to mounting emotions with each canceled check, each one ostensibly tied to the preparations for their unborn child-an additional blow for the wife who has recently suffered the loss of their unborn baby and now faces her husband's arrest. Despite the wife's emotional outburst, Morales, unwavering in his role as a hardened detective, clings to the belief that the suspect is genuinely guilty.
Meanwhile, Vivian's eccentric landlady, Mrs. Smerrling, portrayed brilliantly by Else Lancaster, uncovers Vivian's association with Harkley and attempts to blackmail him. She obtains the murder weapon, which becomes crucial in the climactic sequence. After Morales acquires a search warrant for Harkley's residence and fails to locate the gun, Harkley realizes that Mrs. Smerrling has previously stolen it. He proceeds to visit her apartment and promptly strangles her.
"Mystery Street" resists sentimentalism, instead delivering a gripping narrative. When Shamway's wife arrives to speak with Mrs. Smerrling, she is attacked by Harkley just as Morales arrives on the scene. Morales finally recognizes Shamway as an innocent victim and painstakingly searches Mrs. Smerrling's apartment for the murder weapon. In a captivating scene, after an entire night of fruitless searching, Morales stumbles upon a key to a train station locker, coincidentally concealed at the bottom of Mrs. Smerrling's parrot's cage. Harkley, however, manages to retrieve Mrs. Smerrling's bag from the locker only to find himself trapped inside a railway car after a pursuit by Morales. As Harkley draws the gun, he discovers that the bullets have been removed by Jackie, Vivian's roommate, played by Betsy Blair, who herself experienced being blacklisted by the film industry in the early 1950s. Blair's return to film was facilitated by her husband, Gene Kelly, who threatened to leave MGM.
"Mystery Street" also tackles the subject of racial prejudice, evident in the scene where Harkley converses with Morales in his office. This encounter reveals Harkley's elitism and disdain for Morales due to his foreign background.
While "Mystery Street" showcases a commendable display of forensic investigation ahead of its time, it tends to idealize Harvard University as the ultimate authority in education. This portrayal may overlook the potential shortcomings and limitations that any institution, including Harvard, may possess. Nonetheless, when it comes to sheer entertainment value, "Mystery Street" unquestionably hits the mark. The film's remarkable emphasis on forensic science, ahead of its time, coupled with Ricardo Montalban's captivating performance as the authentic and dedicated investigating detective, ensures an unforgettable viewing experience.
One of the unique aspects of "Mystery Street" is its departure from the conventional noir script. The narrative introduces Lieutenant Morales, the protagonist portrayed by Montalban, approximately 20 minutes into the story. Prior to that, the audience becomes acquainted with the circumstances surrounding the crime. In this expository sequence, we meet the victim, Vivian, a barmaid played by Jan Sterling. Vivian, pregnant with the child of Harkley, a respected married businessman on Cape Cod, seeks a meeting to secure financial support.
The plot takes an intriguing turn when Vivian assists Henry Shamway, an ordinary man drowning his sorrows after his wife's miscarriage, in moving his illegally parked car. Unbeknownst to Shamway, Vivian manipulates the situation and drives both of them towards Cape Cod while he remains inebriated. Just as Shamway begins to regain sobriety, Vivian tricks him into exiting the car momentarily, pretending to let him take the wheel, and leaves him stranded in the middle of nowhere.
In a shocking turn of events, Harkley cold-bloodedly murders Vivian by shooting her at point-blank range while she converses with him in Shamway's car. To further intensify the scene's impact, Harkley embraces and kisses the lifeless barmaid, deceiving two passing motorists into thinking everything is normal. Harkley proceeds to bury the body near the ocean, with the skeletal remains later discovered in a sand dune.
Montalban's portrayal of Lieutenant Morales distinguishes him from the archetypal noir detective. Not only does Morales hail from a non-American background, but he also maintains a composed and objective demeanor throughout his investigation. While Morales assumes the role of the film's protagonist, he avoids becoming the hapless male patsy frequently seen in noir films, and he remains unaffected by the allure of a femme fatale. Instead, it is Shamway, the unsuspecting victim, who falls prey to the conniving Vivian.
Lt. Morales enlists the assistance of the pathology department at the Harvard University Medical School, where viewers are treated to a riveting display of forensic investigation. Utilizing a slide projector, they skillfully match a picture of the skull with a missing person's photograph, showcasing a level of Crime Scene Investigation far ahead of its time. The forensic examination delves deeper as the investigators locate the submerged car where the murder took place, retrieve it from a pond, and trace the trajectory of the fatal bullet. However, it is only after Morales realizes that the victim was indeed murdered that Shamway's innocence is established.
One memorable scene unfolds as Morales interrogates Shamway's wife at their home, seeking information about canceled checks. The wife, expertly portrayed by Sally Forrest, gradually succumbs to mounting emotions with each canceled check, each one ostensibly tied to the preparations for their unborn child-an additional blow for the wife who has recently suffered the loss of their unborn baby and now faces her husband's arrest. Despite the wife's emotional outburst, Morales, unwavering in his role as a hardened detective, clings to the belief that the suspect is genuinely guilty.
Meanwhile, Vivian's eccentric landlady, Mrs. Smerrling, portrayed brilliantly by Else Lancaster, uncovers Vivian's association with Harkley and attempts to blackmail him. She obtains the murder weapon, which becomes crucial in the climactic sequence. After Morales acquires a search warrant for Harkley's residence and fails to locate the gun, Harkley realizes that Mrs. Smerrling has previously stolen it. He proceeds to visit her apartment and promptly strangles her.
"Mystery Street" resists sentimentalism, instead delivering a gripping narrative. When Shamway's wife arrives to speak with Mrs. Smerrling, she is attacked by Harkley just as Morales arrives on the scene. Morales finally recognizes Shamway as an innocent victim and painstakingly searches Mrs. Smerrling's apartment for the murder weapon. In a captivating scene, after an entire night of fruitless searching, Morales stumbles upon a key to a train station locker, coincidentally concealed at the bottom of Mrs. Smerrling's parrot's cage. Harkley, however, manages to retrieve Mrs. Smerrling's bag from the locker only to find himself trapped inside a railway car after a pursuit by Morales. As Harkley draws the gun, he discovers that the bullets have been removed by Jackie, Vivian's roommate, played by Betsy Blair, who herself experienced being blacklisted by the film industry in the early 1950s. Blair's return to film was facilitated by her husband, Gene Kelly, who threatened to leave MGM.
"Mystery Street" also tackles the subject of racial prejudice, evident in the scene where Harkley converses with Morales in his office. This encounter reveals Harkley's elitism and disdain for Morales due to his foreign background.
While "Mystery Street" showcases a commendable display of forensic investigation ahead of its time, it tends to idealize Harvard University as the ultimate authority in education. This portrayal may overlook the potential shortcomings and limitations that any institution, including Harvard, may possess. Nonetheless, when it comes to sheer entertainment value, "Mystery Street" unquestionably hits the mark. The film's remarkable emphasis on forensic science, ahead of its time, coupled with Ricardo Montalban's captivating performance as the authentic and dedicated investigating detective, ensures an unforgettable viewing experience.