Noir Alley: Eddie Muller on Scene Of The Crime (1949)

Scene of the Crime - (Original Trailer)

A detective (Van Johnson) tries to solve a policeman's murder at the Scene of the Crime (1949).

Scene Of The Crime (1949) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Such A Stinkin' Crook

First with a clever riff on their going-out evening routine, L-A cop Mike Conover (Van Johnson) and his fashion model wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl) are surprised by informant Sleeper (TCM friend and favorite Norman Lloyd), with dope on a series of robberies of bookmakers, in MGM’s Scene Of The Crime, 1949.

Scene Of The Crime (1949) -- (Movie Clip) Never Pick Up A Pigeon Alone

Driving around L-A beginning their investigation of a the murder of a fellow plainclothes cop, Van Johnson as Conovan, John McIntire as his mentor-partner Piper, and Tom Drake as young “C.C.,” talk shop and notice lurking “Sleeper” (Norman Lloyd), early in Scene Of The Crime, 1949, from MGM and director Roy Rowland.

Scene Of The Crime (1949) -- (Movie Clip) Only Fools Bet Horses

Three L-A cops (Van Johnson as Mike Conovan, with John McIntire and Tom Drake) investigating a colleague’s murder have followed the car that just picked up a suspect they were watching, to learn that he’s been grabbed by syndicate crook “Umpire” (Tom Powers), looking to set up a larger operation, in Scene Of The Crime, 1949.

Scene Of The Crime (1949) -- (Movie Clip) If You Never Try To Stop

L-A cop Conovan (Van Johnson) chasing a lead, explains to wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl) then, hardly noticing one performer (Jean Carter) and not revealing himself, earns some time with stripper Lili (Gloria DeHaven, in a role evoking the famous Burlesque entertainer Lili St. Cyr), in MGM’s Scene Of The Crime, 1949.

Scene Of The Crime (1949) -- (Movie Clip) Stop Tossing That Gun Around

Opening with a straight-up murder, characters not identified (G. Pat Collins plays the victim whom, we’ll learn, is a plainclothes cop), we then meet cover-girl Gloria (Arlene Dahl) and her husband, cop Mike Conovan (Van Johnson), about to celebrate their anniversary, in the rare MGM-Noir, Scene Of The Crime, 1949.