Roses Are Red
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
James Tinling
Don Castle
Peggy Knudsen
Patricia Knight
Joe Sawyer
Edward Keane
Film Details
Technical Specs
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Synopsis
Though he is not aware of it, newly elected District Attorney Robert A. Thorne bears a very strong resemblance to an ex-convict named Don Carney. The resemblance does not go unnoticed by crime boss Jim Locke, who fears that the new district attorney will make good on his threats to crack down on crime. As part of his plan to prevent Robert from enacting his reforms, Locke abducts the new district attorney and prepares to have him replaced with Carney. Carney spends a week with Robert, learning all the important details about his life and rehearsing himself for his role as the new district attorney. While the press reports Robert's disappearance and the police begin a citywide search, Martha McCormack, Robert's girl friend and a reporter for her father's newspaper, begins her own search for Robert. She begins her investigation with only one lead: an old photograph of a man resembling Robert, which was found by police at the scene of a recent murder. Because the photograph was printed on rare paper that is easily traceable, Martha is able to locate the picture's developer and determine the identity of the man. Though unable to find Carney, Martha locates his wife Jill, who tells her that her husband was paroled and is now living on a ranch. Meanwhile, at Locke's hideout, Carney is overpowered by Robert and knocked unconscious. When Knuckle, one of Locke's gunmen, enters the room, Robert, posing as Carney, tells him that their captive tried to escape. Believing Robert, Knuckle shoots Carney, and then takes Robert to the cliff area where he is to be "discovered" by police lieutenant Wall. Realizing that Wall is in league with Locke, Robert sets out to expose the web of corruption in his city, and does so by suppressing his true identity and playing along with Locke's scheme. Robert manages to fool his old colleagues and Locke's gang until he kisses Jill and she realizes that Robert is not her husband. Jill reports her suspicions to Wall, who tries to flee with Locke's money before the police close in on their operation. When the police arrive to arrest Locke, Locke fires his gun at Wall, who falls to the ground. In his final moment Wall shoots and kills Locke. With the political corruption exposed and eliminated, Robert and Martha resume their romance and seal their love with a kiss.
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Director
James Tinling
Cast
Don Castle
Peggy Knudsen
Patricia Knight
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/JoeSawyer.170746.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Joe Sawyer
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/EdwardKeane.99652.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Edward Keane
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/JeffChandler.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Jeff Chandler
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/CharlesMcGraw.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Charles Mcgraw
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/CharlesLane.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Charles Lane
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/PaulGuilfoyle.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Paul Guilfoyle
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/DouglasFowley.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Doug Fowley
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/JamesArness.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
James Aurness
Cliff Clark
Guy Kingsford
Eddie Fetherston
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/EddieAcuff.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Eddie Acuff
Lester Dorr
William Newell
Eddie Coke
Gordon Clark
Johnny Carpenter
Bill Neff
Wheaton Chambers
Bob Stevens
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/RayTeal.189865.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Ray Teal
Mary Gordon
Charles Miller
Eula Guy
Steve Darrell
Kernan Cripps
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/HankMann.121122.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Hank Mann
Babe Stephens
Jack Worth
Paul Kruger
Lila Deane
Crew
Howard Anderson
Frank Baldridge
Irene Beshon
John Carter
Don Cash
David Chudnow
William Claxton
Irving Elman
Perry Finnerman
Clifford R. Gans
Al Greenwood
Benjamin Kline
Walter Koessler
Rudy Schrager
Howard Sheehan
Maurice Vaccarino
Sol M. Wurtzel
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)