Scene of the Crime
Lieutenant Mike Conovan (Van Johnson), a LAPD homicide detective, investigates when Ed Monigan, an older member of his precinct (and former partner), is murdered. The fact that he was carrying $1,000…
Scene of the Crime
Lieutenant Mike Conovan (Van Johnson), a LAPD homicide detective, investigates when Ed Monigan, an older member of his precinct (and former partner), is murdered. The fact that he was carrying $1,000 in cash confirms it wasn't robbery, but instead raises the issue of whether he was on the take. Conovan's current partner and one-time mentor, Fred Piper (John McIntire), is getting on in years and his eyesight is failing, while under Conovan's wing rookie detective "C.C." (for "carbon copy") Gordon (Tom Drake) is learning the ropes. Out to dispel a theory that Monigan was secretly in cahoots with bookmakers, Conovan begins to track down a pair of downstate guns for hire ("lobos", Spanish, for "wolves"). The trail leads to a cabaret singer, Lili (Gloria DeHaven), whose ex-boyfriend Turk Kingby (Richard Benedict) has apparently pulled off a series of robberies of gamblers with his partner Lafe Douque (William Haade). Conovan's primary informant, Sleeper (Norman Lloyd), is brutally murdered for snitching. Conovan tracks down Lafe and places him under arrest, but leaving Lafe's apartment, gunshots ring out, killing Lafe. Conovan's wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl) worries that police work is too dangerous for him. He agrees, but keeps on the job. Lili calls headquarters with a tip for Conovan on where Turk can be found. Piper intercepts the message, investigates it himself and is gunned down. Conovan concludes that Lili has been double-crossing him, secretly helping Turk all along. Turk and his new partner attempt to flee, but Conovan sets up an ambush. He uses a truck to crash into Turk's armor-plated car, causing it to catch fire. Turk confesses to the murders and clears Monigan before he dies.
Scene of the Crime
Crime,Drama,Film-Noir
Film Details
Lieutenant Mike Conovan (Van Johnson), a LAPD homicide detective, investigates when Ed Monigan, an older member of his precinct (and former partner), is murdered. The fact that he was carrying $1,000 in cash confirms it wasn't robbery, but instead raises the issue of whether he was on the take. Conovan's current partner and one-time mentor, Fred Piper (John McIntire), is getting on in years and his eyesight is failing, while under Conovan's wing rookie detective "C.C." (for "carbon copy") Gordon (Tom Drake) is learning the ropes.
Out to dispel a theory that Monigan was secretly in cahoots with bookmakers, Conovan begins to track down a pair of downstate guns for hire ("lobos", Spanish, for "wolves"). The trail leads to a cabaret singer, Lili (Gloria DeHaven), whose ex-boyfriend Turk Kingby (Richard Benedict) has apparently pulled off a series of robberies of gamblers with his partner Lafe Douque (William Haade). Conovan's primary informant, Sleeper (Norman Lloyd), is brutally murdered for snitching.
Conovan tracks down Lafe and places him under arrest, but leaving Lafe's apartment, gunshots ring out, killing Lafe. Conovan's wife Gloria (Arlene Dahl) worries that police work is too dangerous for him. He agrees, but keeps on the job.
Lili calls headquarters with a tip for Conovan on where Turk can be found. Piper intercepts the message, investigates it himself and is gunned down. Conovan concludes that Lili has been double-crossing him, secretly helping Turk all along.
Turk and his new partner attempt to flee, but Conovan sets up an ambush. He uses a truck to crash into Turk's armor-plated car, causing it to catch fire. Turk confesses to the murders and clears Monigan before he dies..