COVER UP

Dennis O'Keefe and William Bendix

COVER UP (1949). Director: Alfred E. Green. Colorized.  

Insurance investigator Sam Donovan (Dennis O'Keefe) comes to a small town to look into a certain man's alleged suicide. Sheriff Larry Best (William Bendix) isn't too helpful, and other townspeople are downright hostile. Sam is befriended by Anita Weatherby (Barbara Britton), who takes him home to meet her father, Stuart (Art Baker). But even Mr. Weatherby tries to persuade Sam to forget the whole business. Virginia Christine plays the dead man's niece, and she also makes Sam suspicious. Then the town doctor is found dead ... 

Barbara Britton with O'Keefe

Cover Up is a respectable enough little B mystery with good performances, especially from Bendix, and a nice turn from the ever-delightful and taciturn Doro Merande as the Weatherby maid, Hilda, who always speaks her mind whether you want to hear it or not. Prolific director Alfred E. Green directed several films with Bette Davis as well as Paris Model. The year before this O'Keefe starred in Raw Deal, which was a better showcase for him. Barbara Britton co-starred with Charles Laughton in Captain Kidd. Doro Merande also plays a comical maid in The Gazebo.

Verdict: Reasonably intriguing mystery film with a good cast. **1/2.