''Twenty Plus Two'' (a.k.a. ''It Started in Tokyo'') is a 1961 American

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means ...

directed by

Joseph M. Newman Joseph M. Newman (August 17, 1909 – January 23, 2006) was an American film director most famous for his 1955 film ''This Island Earth''. His credits include episodes of ''The Twilight Zone'' and ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour''. He was nomin ...

and starring

David Janssen David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer) (March 27, 1931February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen also ...

Jeanne Crain Jeanne Elizabeth Crain (May 25, 1925 – December 14, 2003) was an American actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her title role in ''Pinky'' (1949). She also starred in the films '' In the Meantime, Darling'' (1944 ...

, and Dina Merrill. The film adapted

Frank Gruber Frank Gruber (born February 2, 1904, Elmer, Minnesota, died December 9, 1969, Santa Monica, California) was an American writer. He was a writer of stories for pulp fiction magazines. He also wrote dozens of novels, mostly Westerns and dete ...

's 1961 novel of the same title.

Plot

Janssen portrays Tom Alder, an investigator who specializes in locating lost heirs for families looking for them. Prompted by a Los Angeles police friend to poke his nose into the murder of a movie star's fan club secretary, he discovers a possible connection that police had missed: one to a missing heiress who had disappeared thirteen years earlier. Crain plays Linda Foster, an old love of Alder's who re-enters his life and pursues him, in spite of being engaged to a wealthy and influential man. She ends up competing with her friend Nicki Kovacs (Merrill) for Alder's attention.

Agnes Moorehead Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900April 30, 1974) was an American actress. In a career spanning four decades, her credits included work in radio, stage, film, and television.Obituary '' Variety'', May 8, 1974, page 286. Moorehead was t ...

and

William Demarest Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 27, 1983) was an American character actor, known especially for his roles in screwball comedies by Preston Sturges and for playing Uncle Charley in the sitcom '' My Three Sons'' Demarest, ...

appear in support roles, each for only one scene with Janssen.

Cast

as Tom Alder *

as Linda Foster * Dina Merrill as Nicki Kovacs *

as Mrs. Eleanor Delaney *

Brad Dexter Brad Dexter (born Boris Michel Soso; April 9, 1917 – December 12, 2002) was an American actor and film producer. He is known for tough-guy and western roles, including the 1960 film ''The Magnificent Seven'' (1960), and producing several fil ...

as Leroy Dane * Robert Strauss as Jimmy Honsinger *

Jacques Aubuchon Jacques Georges Aubuchon (October 30, 1924 – December 28, 1991) was an American actor who appeared in films, stage, and on television in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Aubuchon, who grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was the son of Ar ...

as Jacques Pleschette *

as Desmond Slocum *

George N. Neise George N. Neise (February 16, 1917April 14, 1996) was an American character actor. He made over 120 film and television appearances between 1942 and 1978. Early years Born in Chicago, Illinois, Neise was the son of Edwin Neise and Bertha Hagen. ...

as Walter Collinson *

Fredd Wayne Fredd Wayne (born Fredd Wiener; October 17, 1924 – August 27, 2018) was an American actor with a career spanning seven decades on Broadway, radio, television, movies, and recorded works. He appeared on television as a guest star, and portraye ...

as Harris Toomey *

Carleton Young Captain Carleton Scott Young (October 21, 1905 – November 7, 1994) was an American character actor who was known for his deep voice. Early years Born in Fulton, Oswego, New York, Young was the second and only surviving child of Sta ...

as Colonel *

Robert H. Harris Robert H. Harris (born Robert H. Hurwitz; July 15, 1911 – November 30, 1981) was an American character actor. Stage A veteran of the Yiddish Art Theater from his teens, Harris made his first Broadway appearance in 1937 in ''Schoolhouse on th ...

as Stanley *

Billy Varga William Joe Varga (January 10, 1919 – January 11, 2013), billed as Count Billy Varga, was an American professional wrestler and actor. He was born to Rose and Joe Varga; his father was a professional wrestler in Europe known as Count Joseph V ...

as Mark

Critical reception

Allmovie called it a "talkative but interesting murder mystery."

References

External links

* Film noir 1961 films 1960s mystery films American mystery films Allied Artists films Films directed by Joseph M. Newman Films scored by Gerald Fried 1960s English-language films 1960s American films {{mystery-film-stub