The Spider

Good, solid B film from 20th Century Fox starring Richard Conte, Faye Marlowe, Kurt Krueger, Martin Kosleck, Ann Savage, Mandan Moreland, and Cara Williams.

Conte is Chris Conlin, a New Orleans detective hired by Marlowe, seeking info on her sister, who has disappeared and may have been murdered.

When Chris' partner (Savage) is murdered, seemingly as a result of this case, Chris endeavors to get to the bottom of the case and his partner's murder. This leads him to a mind-reading act.

People will see the name Ann Savage and watch the film, but she dies almost immediately. Nevertheless, keep watching.

Conte does a terrific job, ably supported by the hilarious Mantan Moreland. That kind of comedy came under criticism later on, but Moreland was one of the most talented actors around, with that rubber face and flawless comic timing. A young Cara Williams is a neighbor, and she's stunning.

One of the high points for me was Chris' office, a beautiful set.

A little six degrees of 20th Century Fox separation- the granddaughter of one of Fox's biggest stars, Tyrone Power, disappeared in New Orleans in 1994.

Faye Marlowe hires PI Richard Conte to deliver a package. He assigns it to his associate, Ann Savage. When he arrives at a rendez-vous with Miss Savage, he finds her dead. Soon, he is wanted by the police for two murders.

In its last days of B production, 20th Century-Fox turned out a goodly number of gritty little films noir, and this is one of them. It starts out like a cheap remake of The Maltese Falcon and soon takes a turn into darker details, as lighting cameraman Glen MacWilliams offers a lot of background details that suggests a web. At 63 minutes, it's too rushed for greatness, but it's a great way to spend an hour. With Kurt Krueger, Martin Kosleck, Mantan Moreland, and Cara Williams.