''The Crimson Key'' is a 1947 American

mystery film A mystery film is a 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 of clues, ...

directed by

Eugene Forde Eugene Forde (1898–1986) was an American film director. Selected filmography * '' Daredevil's Reward'' (1928) * '' Painted Post'' (1928) * '' Son of the Golden West'' (1928) * '' Charlie Chan's Courage'' (1934) * '' Charlie Chan in London'' ( ...

and written by Irving Elman, starring Kent Taylor,

Doris Dowling Doris Dowling (May 15, 1923 – June 18, 2004) was an American actress of film, stage and television. Best known for the films '' The Crimson Key'' (1946) and '' Bitter Rice'' (1949). Also known for playing Irene Adams on '' My Living Doll'' ( ...

and

Dennis Hoey Dennis Hoey (born Samuel David Hyams, 30 March 1893 – 25 July 1960) was a British film and stage actor, best remembered for playing Inspector Lestrade in six films of Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. Early life Hoey was born Samuel ...

. It was released on July 2 by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

Plot

Private detective Larry Morgan is hired by a Mrs. Swann to investigate her husband, who is soon found dead in the studio of Peter Vandaman, an artist. Mrs. Swann is concerned about a missing key belonging to her husband. Morgan encounters a receptionist, Miss Phillips, who was in love with Swann, and a man, Steven Loring, who suspected his wife and Swann of having an affair. Loring's alcoholic wife, Margaret, mentions a Key Club with a special red key to a locker, but before he can check it out, Mrs. Swann is murdered and Morgan is beaten by thugs and nearly drugged by a woman named Heidi. He eventually discovers Loring's wife to be the murderess.

Cast

* Kent Taylor as Lawrence 'Larry' Morgan *

as Margaret Loring *

as Steven Loring * Louise Currie as Heidi *

Ivan Triesault Ivan Triesault (born Johann Constantin Treisalt; in Tallinn, Reval (now Tallinn) – January 3, 1980 in Los Angeles) was an Estonians, Estonian-American actor. His parents were from the island of Hiiumaa. Life His first stage appearance was at ...

as Peter Vandaman *

Arthur Space Charles Arthur Space (October 12, 1908 – January 13, 1983) was an American film, television and stage actor. Today's audiences know him as the eccentric inventor opposite Laurel and Hardy in '' The Big Noise'' (1944), and as veterinarian Doc W ...

as Det. Capt. Fitzroy * Vera Marshe as Daisy 'Dizzy' Nelson *Edwin Rand as Jeffrey Regan III * Bernadene Hayes as Mrs. Swann *

Victoria Horne Victoria Horne (November 1, 1911 – October 10, 2003) was an American character actress, appearing in 49 films (uncredited in 25 of these) during the 1940s and 1950s. Early years Horne was born on November 1, 1911, in New York City, to Ig ...

as Miss Phillips * Douglas Evans as Dr. Kenneth G. Swann *

Ann Doran Ann Lee Doran (July 28, 1911 – September 19, 2000) was an American character actress, possibly best known as Carol Stark, the mother of James "Jim" Stark (James Dean) in '' Rebel Without a Cause'' (1955). She was an early member of the Scre ...

as Paris Wood *

Victor Sen Yung Victor Sen Yung (born Victor Cheung Young or Sen Yew Cheung; ; October 18, 1915 – body discovered November 9, 1980) was an American character actor, best known for playing Jimmy Chan in the Charlie Chan films and Hop Sing in the western seri ...

as Wing *

Ralf Harolde Ralf Harolde (born Ralph Harold Wigger, May 17, 1899 – November 11, 1974) was an American character actor who often played gangsters. Between 1920 and 1963, he appeared in 99 films, including ''Smart Money (1931 film), Smart Money'' with ...

as Gunman

References

External links

* 1947 films 1940s English-language films 20th Century Fox films American mystery films 1947 mystery films Films directed by Eugene Forde American black-and-white films 1940s American films English-language mystery films {{mystery-film-stub