The House Across the Street

From a literal standpoint the title for this film seems somewhat irrelevant, since the house across the street only involves the opening sequence. But from a figurative viewpoint, the title is apt, indicating that most urban Americans don't really know much about what is going on across the street from where they live, crime, murder, shakedowns, and such. Across the street could be across the nation.

Dave Joslin (Wayne Morris) is the managing editor for the local newspaper, involved in attacking a crime syndicate running the city headed by boss Keever (Bruce Bennett). When a key witnessed is murdered by Keever's hit-man right in front of a stakeout, Joslin writes a scathing editorial about the ineffectiveness of the police department in handling the mob. Joslin's boss, J.B. Grennell (Alan Hale, Sr.), running scared, orders Joslin to back off. When Joslin refuses, J.B. reassigns him to the Bewildered Hearts office replacing Joslin's lady love, Kit Williams (Janis Paige), who is much obliged to be reassigned. (One wonders if this flick wasn't the basis for the early television sitcom starring Peter Lawford and Marcia Henderson, "Dear Phoebe," where the advice columnist is a man.) While doing his duties as advice to the lovelorn columnist, Joslin stumbles onto a situation that is connected to the mob hit. He and Kit begin a merry chase that leads them into dark corners, near-death escapes, and lots of other fun and mayhem before pulling all the loose ends together.

Wayne Morris is always a joy to watch. Janis Paige doesn't get to sing and dance, but does get to turn in a good performance as assistant sleuth. The rest of the cast is great, especially James Mitchell as Marty Bremer. "The House Across the Street" is basically a comedy-thriller, giving the audience a fair run for its money.

A routine B level remake of the Paul Muni film "Hi, Nellie", "The House Across the Street" offers adequate entertainment for people addicted to vintage crime dramas. Wayne Morris plays Dave Joslin, the crusading managing editor of a newspaper. He's printed one too many stories criticizing the police force and vilifying crime kingpin Matthew Keever (Bruce Bennett), so his boss (Alan Hale Sr.) demotes him to working the advice column section. A dejected Dave quickly sees a way in which doing this thankless job can lead to a real break in terms of actually proving Keever of any wrongdoing - in a roundabout way, of course.

Some folks might consider this "noir", but it's more of a straightforward crime picture with a heavy accent on comedy. Not that the comedy isn't pretty funny, as Dave is a rather obnoxious, sexist guy who constantly spars with would-be girlfriend Kit Williams (an adorable Janis Paige), who was previously toiling on the advice column. Kit would much rather be covering stories of substance, and is often there following leads when Dave is otherwise busy.

You won't get a lot of stark atmosphere, or much physical violence, or much gunplay here, but the story is reasonably entertaining, and as I said, some of the humor works fairly well. The strong supporting cast also includes James Mitchell as a henchman, Barbara Bates as a "bad girl", James Holden as a hard-luck young working stiff, Phyllis Coates as a camera girl, and Billy Gray, Charles Lane, Lila Leeds, Doreen McCann, and Ray Walker as well.

Overall the picture is unmemorable, but it's fast-paced & quick and rather snappy: in other words, a decent B movie from this era.

Six out of 10.

A police detective is watching a house across the street. A postman comes upon the house. After awhile, the real postman shows up. The man across the street is a witness against racketeer Matthew Keever and has been murdered by the fake postman. Manager editor Dave Joslin (Wayne Morris) writes several editorials criticizing the police. Keever threatens the paper and Joslin gets demoted to an advice column. Assisted by Kit Williams (Janis Paige), Joslin continues his investigation.

A stuntwoman has a nice stunt. This is the lesser genre of comedy-noir. It's a B-movie. The comedy is lame. I don't think comedy is a natural fit for this genre. That goes for the lead character as well. He's a bit of a Bubba which doesn't fit the role of a hardnosed newspaper man. I'm not laughing. Kit is a good girl Friday and her character has the nice stunt. It's not more than seventy minutes which is part of the B-movie production. It does mean that this movie doesn't spend the money on an action thriller ending and it rushes the wrap-up. It's a B-movie.

A police detective bungles a stakeout, resulting in the murder of a key witness against a crime boss (Bruce Bennett). Against the advice of his skittish publisher, a managing editor (blond bruiser Wayne Morris) launches a hard-hitting campaign against police incompetence. When Bennett, escorted by mouthpiece and torpedo, rattles his sabres, the publisher puts Morris on the Bewildered Hearts column as punishment. And lo and behold, that's where the case gets solved.

A problem brought by a lovelorn gal, about an incident involving her drunken boyfriend in a mob-owned nightclub, raises red flags. Morris and his sob-sister girlfriend (Janis Paige) start pursuing the story, despite kicks in the shins, threats from guns and almost being run down by a careening black sedan. It turns out that a snapshot taken by the club's roving photographer conceals incriminating evidence....

The House Across the Street stays a fairly generic crime programmer, even down to its attempts at comic and romantic relief. Luckily, the story stays reasonably tight, centering on why and where the boyfriend vanished that dimly remembered night. Its biggest puzzle is its title: The House Across the Street refers to the residence being staked out at the movie's beginning; it's no more than the wick that kindles the plot.

This B-movie was directed by Richard Bare, the guy responsible for all those Joe McDoakes shorts as well as the rural comedies of the 60s, like "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres". The story, though very familiar, is quite well done.

The editor of a local newspaper is in hot water with the owner. It seems that Dave Joslin (Wayne Morris) has been running all sorts of critical stories about a mobster named Keever (Bruce Bennett)...and Keever is threatening to sue. But when Joslin refuses to back off, the owner can't fire him...he has a contract with Joslin. So instead to punish him, he's assigned to run the lonely hearts department. Later, when an odd story about a man who was slipped a mickey lands on his desk, Joslin investigates...and thinks this all might be related to Keever. And, instead of going to the police, Joslin decides to investigate for himself.

During the 1930s and 40s, there were tons of mystery films in which some member of the public investigates and solves a crime. However, this one is handled more smoothly--with some very nice acting, writing and direction. Worth seeing despite being a rather slight movie.