The Turning Point (1952 film)

The Turning Point
The Turning Point
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	William Dieterle
Screenplay by	Warren Duff
Story by	Horace McCoy
Produced by	Irving Asher
Starring	William Holden; Edmond O'Brien; Alexis Smith
Cinematography	Lionel Lindon
Edited by	George Tomasini
Production; company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	November 14, 1952 (New York City);
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Turning Point is a 1952 film noir crime film directed by William Dieterle and starring William Holden, Edmond O'Brien and Alexis Smith. It was inspired by the Kefauver Committee's hearings dealing with organized crime.^[1] Actress Carolyn Jones made her motion picture debut in the film.^[2]

Plot

John Conroy, a crusading district attorney, is tasked to crack down on a crime syndicate, which proves more dangerous because the mob has many city officials under their control. He is assisted by a newspaper man, Jerry McKibbon, who does not think Conroy is tough enough to handle this almost impossible assignment. McKibbon finds his efforts are also compromised by political corruption. McKibbon is eventually threatened by an out-of-town assassin who was hired to kill him at a boxing match.

Cast

William Holden as Jerry McKibbon
Edmond O'Brien as John Conroy
Alexis Smith as Amanda Waycross
Tom Tully as Matt Conroy
Ed Begley as Neil Eichelberger
Danny Dayton as Roy Ackerman
Adele Longmire as Carmelina LaRue
Ray Teal as Clint, Police Captain
Ted de Corsia as Harrigan
Don Porter as Joe Silbray
Howard Freeman as Fogel
Neville Brand as Red
Carolyn Jones (uncredited) as Miss Lilian Smith

Production

Several locations of historical interest in Downtown Los Angeles can be seen in this film. The original Angel's Flight funicular railway is part of one scene. The Hotel Belmont can also be seen. Neither of these landmarks remains. Other buildings that can be seen are the San Fernando Building in the Bank District and a Metropolitan Water District building at 3rd and Broadway.

Radio adaptation

The Turning Point was presented on Broadway Playhouse May 13, 1953. The 30-minute adaptation starred Dane Clark.^[3]

References

^ Spicer, Andrew (2010). Historical Dictionary of Film Noir. Scarecrow Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-8108-7378-0.
^ "Carolyn Jones Is Dead at 50; A TV Actress". The New York Times. United Press International. August 4, 1983.
^ Kirby, Walter (May 10, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 50. Retrieved June 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

The Turning Point at IMDb
The Turning Point at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
The Turning Point at AllMovie
The Turning Point at the TCM Movie Database

This article about a 1950s crime drama film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Spicer-1] Spicer, Andrew (2010). Historical Dictionary of Film Noir. Scarecrow Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-8108-7378-0.

[NYT-2] "Carolyn Jones Is Dead at 50; A TV Actress". The New York Times. United Press International. August 4, 1983.

[3] Kirby, Walter (May 10, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 50. Retrieved June 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

[1]

[2]

[3]