''Tough Assignment'' is a 1949 American

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combi ...

directed by

William Beaudine William Washington Beaudine (January 15, 1892 – March 18, 1970) was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres. Life and car ...

and starring Don Barry,

Marjorie Steele Marjorie Fitzgibbon (27 August 1930 – 20 January 2018) was an Irish-American artist and actress. Early life and family Marjorie Fitzgibbon was born Marjorie Steele on 27 August 1930 in Reno, Nevada, United States. Her parents were Jack, a sal ...

and Steve Brodie. It is regarded as a

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

.Spicer p.421

Plot

A Los Angeles reporter and his photographer wife investigate a criminal gang trying to establish a cartel over beef supplies to the city's butcher shops.

Cast

* Don Barry as Dan Reilly * Marjorie Steele as Margie Reilly * Steve Brodie as Boss Morgan *

Marc Lawrence Marc Lawrence (born Max Goldsmith; February 17, 1910 – November 28, 2005) was an American character actor who specialized in underworld types. He has also been credited as F. A. Foss, Marc Laurence and Marc C. Lawrence. Early life Lawrence ...

as Vince *

Ben Welden Ben Welden (born Benjamin Weinblatt; June 12, 1901 – October 17, 1997) was an American character actor who played a wide variety of Damon Runyon-type gangsters in various movies and television shows. Early years Welden was born in Toledo, ...

as Sniffy * Sid Melton as Herman *

John L. Cason John Lacy Cason (July 30, 1918 – July 7, 1961), also credited as Bob Cason and John L. Cason, was an American actor active in both films and television. During his 20-year career he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He is b ...

as Joe * Frank Richards as Steve * Fred Kohler Jr. as Grant, Head Rancher * Michael Whalen as Hutchison * Edit Angold as Mrs. Schultz *

Leander De Cordova Leander de Cordova (5 December 1877 – 19 September 1969) was a Jamaican-born American actor and film director. He was the brother of Rudolph de Cordova. He was the son of Altamont de Cordova and Katherine Lewis. He was also the grandnep ...

as Mr. Schultz *

Stanley Andrews Stanley Andrews (born Stanley Martin Andrzejewski; August 28, 1891 – June 23, 1969) was an American actor perhaps best known as the voice of Daddy Warbucks on the radio program '' Little Orphan Annie'' and later as "The Old Ranger", the firs ...

as Chief Investigator Patterson * Stanley Price as Al Foster * Iris Adrian as Gloria * Hugh Simpson as Ted * Gayle Kellogg as Jack Lowery

References

Bibliography

* Spicer, Andrew. ''Historical Dictionary of Film Noir''. Scarecrow Press, 2010. * Marshall, Wendy L. ''William Beaudine: From Silents to Television''. Scarecrow Press, 2005.

External links

* 1949 films American crime films American black-and-white films 1949 crime films Films directed by William Beaudine Films scored by Albert Glasser Lippert Pictures films Films set in Los Angeles 1940s English-language films 1940s American films {{1940s-crime-film-stub