Jigsaw is a 1949 American film noir crime drama directed by Fletcher Markle starring Franchot Tone, Jean Wallace and Marc Lawrence. The feature was produced by the Danziger Brothers, Edward J. Danziger and Harry Lee Danziger from a screenplay by Vincent McConnor and Fletcher Markle, which was based on a story by John Roeburt.[2]
| Jigsaw | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Fletcher Markle |
| Screenplay by | Fletcher Markle Vincent McConnor |
| Story by | John Roeburt |
| Produced by | Edward J. Danziger Harry Lee Danziger |
| Starring | Franchot Tone Jean Wallace Marc Lawrence |
| Cinematography | Don Malkames |
| Edited by | Robert Matthews |
| Music by | Robert W. Stringer |
Production company | Tower Pictures |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
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Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $400,000[1] |
The film features cameo appearances by Marlene Dietrich, Henry Fonda, John Garfield, Burgess Meredith, Marsha Hunt, Doe Avedon, Everett Sloane, newspaper columnist Leonard Lyons and the film's director, Fletcher Markle.
Plot
editThe murder of a print shop owner is quickly labeled a suicide. However, newspaper columnist Charlie Riggs is convinced that it was a murder related to a white neofascist organization called the Crusaders and relays this suspicion to assistant district attorney Howard Malloy. Riggs also publishes his opinion in his column.
Riggs is murdered, inducing Malloy to launch an investigation into the Crusaders. The group appears to be backed by organized crime, and Malloy receives unsolicited help from a crime boss named Angel, who recommends him for the position of special prosecutor.
Later, with further help from a prominent judge's widow, Malloy is appointed, and the criminals think that he is in their pocket. However, Malloy proceeds to investigate the artist who created the Crusaders' recruiting poster and sees a painting of an attractive night club singer, so Malloy investigates her. After a series of revelations, a fiery exchange takes place.
Cast
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Reception
editIn a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "It is sluggishly directed by Fletcher Markle, who also co-authored the script, and almost indifferently played, where good playing would do the most for it, by Franchot Tone in the principal role ... An irresistible temptation to get a few recognizable stars to play bit roles in the picture was accepted unfortunately. John Garfield is seen as a loafer, Henry Fonda as a waiter in a club, Burgess Meredith as a bartender, Marcia Hunt as a secretary and such. This tomfooling doesn't help the picture. It gives the whole thing a faintly prankish look."[3]
Critic Philip K. Scheuer of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "'Jigsaw,' produced by Franchot Tone and associates in New York in attempted semidocumentary style, strikes me as a dilettante effort at movie making. The boys seem to have gotten hold of a camera and decided to play around with it. This is too bad, because they also chose a serious subject—the spreading of racial intolerance—and then muddled it up almost hopelessly."[4]
References
edit- ^ Variety February 1949
- ^ Jigsaw at IMDb.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, May 30, 1949. Accessed: July 12, 2013.
- ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (1949-03-30). "'Jigsaw' Gives Serious Subject Odd Treatment". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
External links
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- Jigsaw at IMDb
- Jigsaw at AllMovie
- Jigsaw at the TCM Movie Database
- Jigsaw is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Jigsaw informational site and DVD review at DVD Beaver (includes images)
- Jigsaw complete film on YouTube