CALLING HOMICIDE

Bill Elliott, Myron Healey, James Best

CALLING HOMICIDE (1956). Written and directed by Edward Bernds.

Detective Lt. Andy Doyle (Bill Elliott) goes into action when another cop is killed by a car bomb. The dead man had said he was beginning an investigation but offered no details aside from the name of a woman whose battered body is then found at the bottom of a cliff. This takes Doyle and Det. Sgt. Mike Duncan (Don Haggerty) to a school for models, owned by Allen Gilmore (Thomas Browne Henry of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers) and run by Darlene Adams (Jeanne Cooper), with Tony Fuller (Lyle Talbot) another executive. Doyle is convinced that the seemingly proper modeling agency is just the front for more felonious activity, but also has to ponder which of several people might be behind the murders. Other suspects include Benny (John Dennis), a handyman with the agency; Jim Haddix (Myron Healey of Panther Girl of the Kongo), the ex-boyfriend of the female victim and a former stuntman; and Donna (Kathleen Case) his fiancee and another model.  

Suspects? Thomas Browne Henry, Lyle Talbot, Jeanne Cooper

This is the third of five films starring Bill Elliott as an L. A. police detective. Bernds' flavorful script plays out like an especially good episode of Law and Order (sans the prosecutors) with lots of intriguing developments and twists. A sudden murder in a bar is especially good. The cast, including James Best as another young cop anxious to make an impression, is game, with Talbot particularly notable as the generally drunk Fuller and the ever-reliable Jeanne Cooper saucy as the modeling school operator who knows more than she's telling. Myron Healey also has one of his best roles as the executive who also may have too many secrets. Almira Sessions is fun as a peppery housekeeper who brooks no nonsense, not even from cops. Edward Bernds also directed High School Hellcats and many others. 

Verdict: Like a superior episode of a snappy TV detective show. ***. 

MAN ON THE PROWL

James Best and Mala Powers

MAN ON THE PROWL (1957). Director: Art Napoleon. 

Living with his horrible mother (Vivi Janiss), Doug Gerhardt (James Best of Killer Shrews) has developed a positive hatred for women. He beats one poor gal who resists his advances to death with his fists. Then Doug accidentally encounters Marian Wood (Mala Powers), who is married to car dealer Woody (Jerry Paris) and has two cute little boys (Josh and Jeff Freeman).  Arrogant and attracted to Marian -- one senses she is drawn to Doug despite her love for her husband --  Doug does his best to court her, but she will only agree to having a beer with him because he tells her they went to the same school. This only makes Doug obsess more over Marian, putting both her husband and her children in mortal danger. 

Man on the Prowl may have been the only starring role for James Best, who gives a strong performance as the psychopath, with good work from Mala Powers and Jerry Paris as well. Ted de Corsia is fine as the detective on the case, and Vivi Janiss makes an impression as Doug's monster mother. The film features a tense and suspenseful climax. Art Napoleon directed only two other films, the Diana Barrymore biopic, Too Much, Too Soon, starring Dorothy Malone and Errol Flynn, and The Activist ten years later. 

Verdict: Worthwhile minor suspense film ***.