A drifter is bailed out of jail by a lawyer, who hires him to impersonate a millionaire until the man can be declared legally dead and the estate settled. However, the man soon finds out tha... Read allA drifter is bailed out of jail by a lawyer, who hires him to impersonate a millionaire until the man can be declared legally dead and the estate settled. However, the man soon finds out that things are not exactly how they seem.A drifter is bailed out of jail by a lawyer, who hires him to impersonate a millionaire until the man can be declared legally dead and the estate settled. However, the man soon finds out that things are not exactly how they seem.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
Edgar Dearing
- Cop
- (uncredited)
Michael Mark
- Vagrant
- (uncredited)
Forbes Murray
- Bailiff
- (uncredited)
Edward Van Sloan
- Judge
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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Featured reviews
a vagrant is hired to impersonate a millionaire
Kent Smith, Viveca Lindfors, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas, and John Alvin star in "This Side of the Law," a 1950 film directed by Richard L. Bare. Smith plays David Cummins, a vagrant who is baled out by an attorney named Phillip Cagle (Douglas) who wants him to impersonate a missing millionaire in order to divide a $3,000,000 estate. Cummings agrees to do it for $5,000, but he walks into a hornet's nest: a wife (Viveca Lindfors) who doesn't seem to like him much, a brother (Alvin) who detests him, and a sister-in-law (Paige) who likes him a little too much. It's all pretty confusing, as Cummins tries to do the right thing by the millionaire's obviously hurt wife. Then murder complicates the situation further.
The story is told in flashback, as we see in the beginning that Cummins is in grave danger -- as he tries to save himself, he goes over the events that brought him to his present problems.
Fairly interesting story. I'm sure for Lindfors, a wonderful actress brought over from Sweden, this was hardly the stuff of star-making, but she does a good job. Paige is gorgeous.
All in all, fast-moving and satisfying.
The story is told in flashback, as we see in the beginning that Cummins is in grave danger -- as he tries to save himself, he goes over the events that brought him to his present problems.
Fairly interesting story. I'm sure for Lindfors, a wonderful actress brought over from Sweden, this was hardly the stuff of star-making, but she does a good job. Paige is gorgeous.
All in all, fast-moving and satisfying.
Fun Thriller
This Side Of the Law is a rather fun thriller from the early fifties and concerns a man hired to impersonate someone else, a greedy family and other unwholesome things. The cast is decidedly of the second-string variety; however that doesn't make it bad. Kent Smith and Viveca Lindfors were both talented performers and play their starring roles well. It's particularly nice to see Smith in a leading role for a change, as he was a decent actor who never quite made the cut in Hollywood. Character actor John Alvin does nicely in a showy supporting part. I wouldn't quite call the movie film noir, though it's close. It plays somewhat like an episode of the Perry Mason TV series, as it's full of similar plot twists and surprises. If one likes dark mysteries this is a good one to look for.
Viveca Lindfors Stunning beauty .
This Side of the Law is a thrilling ride of twists and turns in gorgeous Gothic settings. Kent Smith plays David Cummins, a bum arrested for vagrancy whose fine is paid by a stranger named Philip Cagle (Robert Douglas), an attorney who offers him a job to impersonate a missing millionaire named Malcolm Taylor whom Cummins resembles perfectly and for whose estate Cagle is executor. Despite not knowing Cagle's intentions, Cummins needs the money so takes the job, returning "home" to the man's clifftop estate to the shock of Taylor's wife, brother, and sister-in-law, who assumed him dead. We soon learn just how much hatred and deceit a household of merely four inhabitants can contain. The acting is mostly excellent, William Lava's score is eerily ahead of its time, especially during moments of heightened suspense, and Carl Guthrie's cinematography beautifully captures the atmosphere of the dramatic settings (cliff, beach, gazebo), especially since most scenes take place at night. Underseen and under-rated. 8/10
Viveca Lindfors Stunning beauty ......was a Swedish-born actress whose stage and screen career in the U. S. and Sweden spanned more than half a century. She was brought to Hollywood in 1946 by Warner Brothers in the hope that she would be a new Greta Garbo or Ingrid Bergman.
Viveca Lindfors Stunning beauty ......was a Swedish-born actress whose stage and screen career in the U. S. and Sweden spanned more than half a century. She was brought to Hollywood in 1946 by Warner Brothers in the hope that she would be a new Greta Garbo or Ingrid Bergman.
Probably very little known, but solid, well done Film Noir...
I really liked this one. I wasn't steeped in dark, shadowy style like many of the Noir films of the time were. And, there aren't any real stylistic flourishes really.
However, being a lover of all Film Noir I must say that the story is a solid little Thriller, well written and acted by all concerned.
I'm not familiar with the director and I don't know if he did many films, but I felt he did an excellent job setting up the situation and then slowly and steadily building the suspense and tension as you begin to realize what is happening.
I'm also not familiar at all with the star, but he really did a great job and portrayed his character in a very believable and sympathetic way. The dialog was not forced or overly 'Noirish' at all, but very natural and fit well with the ongoing story.
So, although I usually prefer the more Dark, Moody, stylish Noirs of the period, I must say that this simple little story was very effective and quite entertaining.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Particular Way of Rating:
5 - Flawed, but perhaps with some entertainment value.
6. A decently passable story maybe worth a watch.
7. A solid film, well made, effective, and entertaining.
And, obviously, you can probably figure out what above and below these would mean... : )
However, being a lover of all Film Noir I must say that the story is a solid little Thriller, well written and acted by all concerned.
I'm not familiar with the director and I don't know if he did many films, but I felt he did an excellent job setting up the situation and then slowly and steadily building the suspense and tension as you begin to realize what is happening.
I'm also not familiar at all with the star, but he really did a great job and portrayed his character in a very believable and sympathetic way. The dialog was not forced or overly 'Noirish' at all, but very natural and fit well with the ongoing story.
So, although I usually prefer the more Dark, Moody, stylish Noirs of the period, I must say that this simple little story was very effective and quite entertaining.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Particular Way of Rating:
5 - Flawed, but perhaps with some entertainment value.
6. A decently passable story maybe worth a watch.
7. A solid film, well made, effective, and entertaining.
And, obviously, you can probably figure out what above and below these would mean... : )
A resentful brother, a seductive sister-in-law, a reluctant wife and a sinister lawyer...but the best character in this noir is Angel the dog!
This noir begins with a man trapped in a cistern berating himself. We learn that he is David Cummins (Kent Smith), a self proclaimed drifter, who was picked up by the police and subsequently bailed out of jail by a lawyer who he didn't know. The lawyer explains that he wants to hire him to impersonate his wealthy client for an inheritance case. It would be for just a short period of time and he would make $5,000, but he can't ask any questions.
David must fool the man's brother, sister-in-law, and wife...oh! And his dog, Angel. Angel is a beautiful dog too, who is only kept at bay by the smell of her owner's clothing and the non-threatening nature of David.
It's clear from the minute he sets foot on the property that things aren't as they seem...this is both a missing person and a murder mystery, but the biggest question is can David get out alive?
I enjoyed this mysterious noir. I appreciated that they answered all the questions in the end. This is a recommendation to noir fans. It may not be in the top tier but it was a great house and a good watch.
David must fool the man's brother, sister-in-law, and wife...oh! And his dog, Angel. Angel is a beautiful dog too, who is only kept at bay by the smell of her owner's clothing and the non-threatening nature of David.
It's clear from the minute he sets foot on the property that things aren't as they seem...this is both a missing person and a murder mystery, but the biggest question is can David get out alive?
I enjoyed this mysterious noir. I appreciated that they answered all the questions in the end. This is a recommendation to noir fans. It may not be in the top tier but it was a great house and a good watch.
Did you know
- TriviaProduced in October and November of 1948, but not released until June of 1950.
- GoofsPatience is a virtue - unless you killed a guy for his $3 million dollar fortune (worth $40 million in 2025) and are just waiting out the 7 years till the "missing man" can be declared legally dead. And then what...? Kill some more folks? As crooked lawyer Philip Cagle was going to have to, as no way *he* was the beneficiary of Malcolm's will, nor was anyone just going to endorse the inheritance check over to him with a "Thanks for thinking about Malcolm all these years! You're a pal. You can have it all!" Exactly what was his plan? In one more week the widow Evelyn would have gotten the money (as the seven years waiting period would have been up). She was not about to just hand the whole wad over. The spineless shrew of a brother (Calder) and his malicious wife (Nadine) were only going to get whatever crumbs either Malcolm or shystering Cagle would have left for them in Malcolm's will. What did Cagle need Nadine (who was having an affair with Malcolm, and never knew Cagle had murdered him) for? Why would he be splitting the take with her? And Cagle was going to have to kill off hired impostor Cummins (as if he was really a bad apple afterall he'd immediately blackmail Cagle to death, and if he was a good one he'd turn him in to the cops). So Cagle would have had to have killed Malcolm to get the ball rolling (and clock ticking), killed Evelyn to make sure she didn't get the money, killed Calder (so he didn't inherit it once both Malcolm and Evelyn were dead), then killed Calder's wife Nadine (since she'd've been next in line). That only would have left the dog standing. Maybe the whole thing seemed like a good idea when Cagle first dreamt it up, but realistically, it's just not very practical.
- Quotes
Philip Cagle: [encountering Cummins as he has just been released from jail for vagrancy] Better out here, isn't it?
David Cummins: You paid my fine.
Philip Cagle: You're abrupt, Mr. Cummins, but true.
David Cummins: Is there any reason I should thank you?
Philip Cagle: I talk better over a cup of coffee, how 'bout you?
David Cummins: That depends on what I have to talk about.
Philip Cagle: I paid fifty dollars to get you out here, the least you can do is let me tell you why I did it.
Philip Cagle: Fifty dollars for me? Inflation's here to stay.
[gets into the car]
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- El que no volvió
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 14m(74 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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