The Missing Corpse
Cast & Crew
Albert Herman
J. Edward Bromberg
Isabel Randolph
Frank Jenks
Eric Sinclair
Paul Guilfoyle
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Henry Kruger, publisher of The Tribune newspaper, receives little attention in his own household, be it from his wife, children or servants. After seeing a photograph of his daughter Phyllis, caught in a compromising situation, on the front page of The Daily Argus , Henry rushes into the office of Andy McDonald, the crooked publisher of Argus , and threatens to kill the newspaperman if he publishes another scandalous story about his family. Later, when ex-convict "Slippery" Joe Clary reveals that he overheard Henry's threat, Henry insinuates that McDonald secretly testified against Clary and even dated his girl friend while Clary was in San Quentin. Upon the suggestion of his chauffeur, Mike Hogan, Henry then decides to take a long-overdue vacation from both his work and family. In the meantime, Clary kills McDonald and dumps his body in Henry's car. Clary then attempts to retrieve a confession he signed for an earlier murder from McDonald's safe, but realizes that it is still on the dead newspaperman's body. Upon arriving at his hunting lodge, Henry finds the dead body inside his trunk, and, fearful of being accused of the murder, decides to dispose of the body. Before he can do so, however, Mike discovers the body and moves it into the house. The two are then forced to hide the body from numerous parties, including Desmond, the caretaker; Fritzie, Desmond's dog; and Jimmy Trigg, the local policeman. Clary soon arrives at the lodge and begins hunting for the body as well. Meanwhile, Henry's wife Alice finally notices his absense, and learning of his threat against the missing McDonald, heads up to the lodge to be with her husband. They are soon joined by their son James, Phyllis, and Jeffry Dodd, Phyllis' boyfriend and a reporter for The Daily Argus . Though the body is repeatedly discovered by different people, Henry alway has Mike move it, then convinces the person who found it that it was never there. Later, Trigg locates McDonald's car hidden in the woods and arrests Henry on suspicion of murder. James falsely confesses to the murder, and when he offers to show Trigg where the body is, Trigg captures Clary. With his confession found on McDonald's body, Clary admits all. Henry is then cleared of all charges and his family promises to pay more attention to him. The next morning, however, Henry finds himself alone at breakfast, as usual.
Director
Albert Herman
Cast
J. Edward Bromberg
Isabel Randolph
Frank Jenks
Eric Sinclair
Paul Guilfoyle
Ben Welden
Charles Coleman
Eddy Waller
John Shay
Lorell Sheldon
Michael Branden
Elayne Adams
Mary Arden
Charles Jordan
Anne O'neal
Jean Ransome
Ken Terrell
Isabel Withers
Crew
Mona Barry
James Brown
William A. Calihan Jr.
William R. Fox
Leon Fromkess
Karl Hajos
W. Donn Hayes
Harry O. Hoyt
Ray Mercer
Martin Mooney
Paul Palmentola
Harry Reif
Ray Schrock
Gene Stone
Ray Young
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were Deadline and Stranger in the Family. Hollywood Reporter production charts include Archie Twitchell in the cast, but his appearance in the released film has not been confirmed.
