Manhandled (1949 film)
| Manhandled | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lewis R. Foster |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ernest Laszlo |
| Edited by | Howard A. Smith |
| Music by | Darrell Calker |
Production company | Pine-Thomas Productions |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Manhandled is a 1949 film noir directed by Lewis R. Foster, and starring Dorothy Lamour, Dan Duryea, and Sterling Hayden, and based on the 1945 novel The Man Who Stole a Dream by L. S. Goldsmith.
Plot
Struggling writer Alton Bennet explains to psychiatrist Dr. Redman how he has nightmares about murdering his wealthy wife, Ruth, who owns very valuable jewels.
A private eye, Karl Benson, steals the office keys of Redman's private secretary, Merl Kramer, who is then framed after Ruth is found murdered. Karl has planted some of the dead woman's jewels in Merl's apartment.
Insurance investigator Joe Cooper is on the case, along with the police. Karl is confronted by Dr. Redman, who confesses that it was he who murdered Ruth, his own patient. Karl happened upon the murder scene, knocked out Redman and stole the jewels.
Redman proposes a split, but Karl kills him. He then knocks Merl unconscious and intends to throw her from a roof, but her cries alert police and Joe, who come to her rescue.
Cast
- Dorothy Lamour as Merl Kramer
- Sterling Hayden as Joe Cooper
- Dan Duryea as Karl Benson
- Irene Hervey as Ruth, Mrs. Alton Bennet
- Phillip Reed as Guy Bayard
- Harold Vermilyea as Dr. Redmond
- Alan Napier as Alton Bennet
- Art Smith as Detective Lt. Bill Dawson
- Irving Bacon as Sgt. Fayle
Reception
Audiences and critics found the plot too confusing, and the film was not popular on its release. Lisa Mateas of Turner Classic Movies said that "contemporary audiences ... will find that Manhandled does not disappoint".[1]
References
- ^ Mateas, Lisa. "Manhandled". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
External links
- Manhandled at IMDb
- Manhandled at AllMovie
- Manhandled at the TCM Movie Database
- Manhandled film trailer on YouTube