Murder is My Beat

 (1955)
Directed by Edgar R. Ulmer
Written by Aubrey Wiseberg (screenplay & story), Martin Field (story)
Starring Paul Langdon, Barbara Payton, Robert Shayne, Tracey Roberts.
IMDB Entry

Film noir has become a catchall term for any movie from the 50s shot in black and white where a crime was central. I find that overly broad, and a movie like Murder is My Beat, though given that description is more anti-noir, though it clearly wants you to think it is.

The movie starts with Police Captain Bert Rawley (Robert Shayne) finding one of his squad, Ray Patrick (Paul Langton) holed up in a hotel room.  Langton explains how he got there, and we see a long flashback.

It starts with a murder. A man is found, his head and hands in a fire, burned beyond recognition. He's identified as Frank Deane and is the boyfriend of singer Eden Lane (Barbara Payton), who has left town. Patrick goes after her and finds her in a small mountain cabin.  She admits to killing Deane; the two spend the night* and Patrick begins to sympathize with her. After she's convicted, he takes her to prison and she spots Deane in a train station.  They jump off the train to investigate.

Flashback over, Patrick begs Rawley to help him to solve the case.  He agrees.

The story is nicely constructed. It is obvious to the modern viewer that the corpse was not Deane, but the identity is a decent twist and the killer is a surprise.

The acting is serviceable. Langton was a busy TV actor during the 60s. Shayne is known for his role of Inspector Henderson in The Adventures of Superman. 

Payton had a sadder career, with alcohol and drug problems, and a messy romantic life. This was her last credited role.

________________________________________________________

*Chastely, of course. The Hayes Office still ruled, especially in low-budget films like this one.