Boomerang! (1947)
Another obscure movie of the bygone era when crisp succinct dialogue was more important in deciding the quality of a movie. The antics of special effects and pyrotechnics have now superseded quality acting. This story is based on a real life event of an unsolved murder in Connecticut. The director, Elia Kazan, whose has the reputation of introducing many superstars including Marlon Brando, James Dean, Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood won a couple of awards for his work. Karl Malden (of 'The Waterfront' and 'The Streets of San Francisco' fame is seen here as supporting actor.
A respected figure in town, Father Lambert, in shot at short range in the centre of town on a dark night. Seven witnesses came forth, swearing to have a good view of the murderer. The only description that they can give of the perpetrator is that he wore a dark long coat and the light coloured hat.
The pressure builds up to apprehend the murderer from the public, press and politicians. The police is forced to go on a rampage to detain hundreds of suspects and finally pin the crime on an ex-serviceman, John Waldron, for possessing a weapon similar to the murder weapon. A confession was forced on him after prolonged sleep deprivation and interrogation.
In comes the State Attorney Henry Harvey who incurs the wrath of police when instead of prosecuting the accused, he managed to shake the credibility of the witnesses and the evidences put forward in the case.
In the end, an innocent man walks free. The real murderer was never found but two deaths apparently by suicide suggests maybe the actual murderer found his own justice. Or was the accused the real culprit?
The character of the State Attorney, Henry Harvey, is based on a Homer Cummings who later went on to become the Attorney General under FD Roosevelt.
A respected figure in town, Father Lambert, in shot at short range in the centre of town on a dark night. Seven witnesses came forth, swearing to have a good view of the murderer. The only description that they can give of the perpetrator is that he wore a dark long coat and the light coloured hat.
The pressure builds up to apprehend the murderer from the public, press and politicians. The police is forced to go on a rampage to detain hundreds of suspects and finally pin the crime on an ex-serviceman, John Waldron, for possessing a weapon similar to the murder weapon. A confession was forced on him after prolonged sleep deprivation and interrogation.
In the end, an innocent man walks free. The real murderer was never found but two deaths apparently by suicide suggests maybe the actual murderer found his own justice. Or was the accused the real culprit?
The character of the State Attorney, Henry Harvey, is based on a Homer Cummings who later went on to become the Attorney General under FD Roosevelt.
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