I Love a Mystery (film)
Encyclopedia
I Love a Mystery is a 1945 drama film directed by Henry Levin and starring Jim Bannon
, Nina Foch
, George Macready
and Barton Yarborough
. Based on Carlton E. Morse
's popular radio serial of the same name
, I Love a Mystery was the first of three Columbia "B" pictures inspired by the radio series and the only one actually based on a script written by Morse for the radio series.
), has offered to buy Monk's head (after he is dead) because he looks exactly like the ancient mummified founder of his order. When the two trail Monk and his woman companion, Jean Anderson, out into the night, the one-legged man does approach, but eludes their efforts to catch him.
As Packard delves into the mystery, he comes to suspect that someone is trying to drive Monk into committing suicide after he learns that Monk's two million dollar inheritance will go to charity if he divorces his wheelchair-bound wife Ellen (Nina Foch). Along with Ellen, the suspects include her physician, Dr. Han (an uncredited Gregory Gaye
); her nurse (Isabel Withers
, uncredited); her lover, Justin Reeves; Jean; and the minions of the society.
Then the one-legged man has his throat cut. He is identified as Jean's father. Jean and Reeves soon suffer the same fate.
It turns out that all of Monk's acquaintances, led by his wife, are plotting his death. However, he found out by bribing Dr. Han and started killing them off one by one. Fearing that Packard and Long will eventually figure out the identity of the murderer, Monk tries to dispatch them as well, but they manage to foil his scheme. Unmasked, Monk flees in his car, only to have a crash result in his decapitation.
Jim Bannon
Jim Bannon was an actor in radio and Hollywood western films during the 1940s and 1950s. He is best remembered as the fourth cinema Red Ryder from 1949 - 1950...
, Nina Foch
Nina Foch
Nina Foch was a Dutch-born American actress and leading lady in many 1940s and 1950s films.- Personal life :...
, George Macready
George Macready
George Peabody Macready, Jr. , was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains.-Background:...
and Barton Yarborough
Barton Yarborough
William Barton Yarborough was an American actor who worked extensively in radio drama.As a youth, Yarborough ran away from home, attracted by the vaudeville stages, and he first worked in radio during the 1920s...
. Based on Carlton E. Morse
Carlton E. Morse
Carlton Errol Morse was a Louisiana-born producer/journalist best known for his creation of the radio serial One Man's Family, which debuted in 1932 and ran until 1959 as one of the most popular as well as long-running radio soap operas of the time. He also was responsible for the radio serial I...
's popular radio serial of the same name
I Love a Mystery
I Love a Mystery was a radio drama series about three friends who ran a detective agency and traveled the world in search of adventure. Distinguished by the high octane scripting of Carlton E...
, I Love a Mystery was the first of three Columbia "B" pictures inspired by the radio series and the only one actually based on a script written by Morse for the radio series.
Plot
Two detectives, Jim Packard (Jim Bannon) and Doc Long (Barton Yarborough), make the acquaintance of Jefferson Monk (George Macready) in a nightclub they frequent. When a flaming desert is nearly spilled onto the trio, Monk informs them that it was meant for him. He explains that, according to a prophesy, he is to die in three days. Upon learning their profession, he hires them to protect him, particularly from a man with a peg leg and a valise, the latter (he suspects) to transport his decapitated head to the ancient secret society of the Barokan. The leader of the society, Mr. Gee (Lester MatthewsLester Matthews
Lester Matthews was an English actor born in Nottingham, England, UK. In his career, he made more than 180 appearances in film and on television. He was on occasion erroneously credited as Lester Mathews and especially in later years was sometimes known as Les Matthews. He died on the 6 June 1975...
), has offered to buy Monk's head (after he is dead) because he looks exactly like the ancient mummified founder of his order. When the two trail Monk and his woman companion, Jean Anderson, out into the night, the one-legged man does approach, but eludes their efforts to catch him.
As Packard delves into the mystery, he comes to suspect that someone is trying to drive Monk into committing suicide after he learns that Monk's two million dollar inheritance will go to charity if he divorces his wheelchair-bound wife Ellen (Nina Foch). Along with Ellen, the suspects include her physician, Dr. Han (an uncredited Gregory Gaye
Gregory Gaye
Gregory Gaye was a Russian-American actor. The son of an actor, he was born Gregory De Gay in Petrograd, now known as St. Petersburg....
); her nurse (Isabel Withers
Isabel Withers
Isabel Withers was an American actress, who worked in theatre, film and television.-Theater:As a youth, Withers lived in Coffeyville, Kansas and Illinois. She attended school in Kansas City, Missouri....
, uncredited); her lover, Justin Reeves; Jean; and the minions of the society.
Then the one-legged man has his throat cut. He is identified as Jean's father. Jean and Reeves soon suffer the same fate.
It turns out that all of Monk's acquaintances, led by his wife, are plotting his death. However, he found out by bribing Dr. Han and started killing them off one by one. Fearing that Packard and Long will eventually figure out the identity of the murderer, Monk tries to dispatch them as well, but they manage to foil his scheme. Unmasked, Monk flees in his car, only to have a crash result in his decapitation.
Cast
- Jim BannonJim BannonJim Bannon was an actor in radio and Hollywood western films during the 1940s and 1950s. He is best remembered as the fourth cinema Red Ryder from 1949 - 1950...
as Jack Packard - Nina FochNina FochNina Foch was a Dutch-born American actress and leading lady in many 1940s and 1950s films.- Personal life :...
as Ellen Monk - George MacreadyGeorge MacreadyGeorge Peabody Macready, Jr. , was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains.-Background:...
as Jefferson Monk - Barton YarboroughBarton YarboroughWilliam Barton Yarborough was an American actor who worked extensively in radio drama.As a youth, Yarborough ran away from home, attracted by the vaudeville stages, and he first worked in radio during the 1920s...
as Doc Long - Carole Mathews as Jean Anderson
- Lester MatthewsLester MatthewsLester Matthews was an English actor born in Nottingham, England, UK. In his career, he made more than 180 appearances in film and on television. He was on occasion erroneously credited as Lester Mathews and especially in later years was sometimes known as Les Matthews. He died on the 6 June 1975...
as Justin Reeves / Mr. Gee