Criminals Within
Cast & Crew
Joseph Lewis
Eric Linden
Ben Alexander
Don Curtis
Ann Doran
Constance Worth
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In an Army research laboratory, Professor Carroll is about to demonstrate a new chemical explosive to a military intelligence officer when he is shot to death by an unseen assailant. Meanwhile, at Camp Madison, Corporal Greg Carroll, the dead scientist's brother, is sent to the guardhouse after he admits to Captain Bryant that he has seen a missing document linking his brother and several other scientists to a top-secret project. That evening, Alma Barton, a hostess at the camp's recreation hall, hides a secret message in a pair of shoes, which she then instructs soldier Sam Dillingham to take to the cobbler, Carl Flegler. When Sam returns, he delivers a dinner tray to Greg, who is surprised to find a key to his cell hidden in a roll. After escaping from the guardhouse, Greg sneaks into the recreation hall, where he attempts to call his brother and warn him that he may be in danger. Greg is still hiding in the phone booth when the recreation hall closes, and when Bryant comes in and questions Alma about the shoes, she sends a signal to an unseen accomplice. By the time Greg emerges from the phone booth, Alma is gone and Bryant is lying dead behind the counter. Lieutenant Harmon enters looking for Greg, and when Bryant's body is found, Greg is presumed guilty of the murder. Greg flees to the barracks and persuades his friend, Sergeant Paul, to smuggle him out of the camp. First, however, they stop at Bryant's office, where Greg opens the safe and removes a list of addresses of the scientists involved in the secret project, which he memorizes and burns. Meanwhile, Sergeant Blake, a former newspaperman, calls Linda, a reporter, and directs her to Alma's apartment. Linda is hiding in the apartment hallway when Greg shows up and finds Alma's body, as well as a coded message about himself. When a man named Stanley Hume comes to the door with a message that Alma is to see the cobbler in the morning, Greg knocks him out and puts on his clothes, then gets out of the building just as Harmon and his men are entering the lobby. Harmon takes Hume into custody, and Linda, who has followed Greg, takes him back to her apartment. The next morning, after Hume's lawyer arranges his release, Colonel Longstreet orders Paul to follow Hume, whereupon Paul takes the men aside and reminds them that they are acting on Paul's orders. Linda, meanwhile, drives Greg to the cobbler's shop and waits by the car while he gives Flegler a shoe that he took from Alma's apartment. Greg is then taken prisoner by a ring of foreign agents, who demand the addresses of the other scientists. Linda is brought in and placed in a high-temperature interrogation chamber by Paul, who tells Greg that he arranged for his escape from the guardhouse, and admits that he killed Bryant and Alma. Linda breaks free and Greg forces Paul's henchmen into the chamber, and when Harmon and Blake arrive, the foreign agents are subdued. Pleased with their collaboration, Greg and Linda link arms.
Director
Joseph Lewis
Cast
Eric Linden
Ben Alexander
Don Curtis
Ann Doran
Constance Worth
Weldon Heyburn
Dudley Dickerson
Bernice Pilot
Ray Erlenborn
I. Stanford Jolley
Emmett Vogan
Robert Frazer
Boyd Irwin
William Ruhl
Dennis Moore
Crew
George R. Batcheller
Edward Bennett
E. B. Derr
Howard Dillinger
Emanuel Glussman
Arthur Hoerl
Arthur Martinelli
Earl Sheffer
Arthur Smith
William Strobach
Benjamin Winkler
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Missing Army Hostess. The title on the viewed print was Army Mystery, and the onscreen credits list Eric Linden and Ann Doran above the title. A Hollywood Reporter news item includes John Holland, Peter George and Earl Hodgins in the cast, but their appearance in the final film has not been confirmed.
