♦B-Movie Classics♦ 'The Mugger' (1958) Kent Smith, Nan Martin

1958 | Approved | Crime, Drama, Thriller | Nov 1958 (USA)
Stars: Kent Smith • Nan Martin • James Franciscus • Stefan Schnabel
A police psychiatrist attempts to find a mugger obsessed with the need to seek out lonely women and slash their faces.

[@marbleman52]

The man at the end said: .." Crazy world we live in, everybody's in a hurry, hurry, hurry..." This was back in 1958.Can you imagine what he would say today...!!!

[@robtw88]

Very true!

[@davidleonard1813]

What was that guy that hung himself in shawshank redemption..the world went and got in a hurry..or similar line.

[@bestill670]

A few times I thought about stoping to watch the film, this closing line made it all worthwhile!

[@Mobbzee]

Doubt he would say anything, he would have been dead for 40 years 😜😆

[@markhusinka4952]

He would say we are going backwards as a species.

[@MrSkippydevereaux]

Nan Martin was Freida Claxton on an episode of "The Golden Girls". She also played Philomena in another episode. Also, Mac's wife is Renee Taylor, best known as Fran's mother on "The Nanny:!! Then, there is Michael Conrad, who played on "hill Street Blues", as one of the gamblers. Wow, this movie is loaded with character actors galore!! I love it!!

[@solemandd67]

Actress Nan Martin also played Carroll O'Connor's wife in the 1968 film "For Love of Ivy", starring Sidney Poitier and Abby Lincoln. The next year, she co-starred in the film "Goodbye, Columbus" which starred Richard Benjamin and Ali McGraw.

[@larrynelson3329]

Yes and George Maharis who was on Route 66

[@rogermaes6001]

Good script, good cast with the cute George Maharis in a tiny role, and James Franciscus, the attractive one, as a taxi driver... what a thrill ! 😍 Thanks.

[@iac4357]

Good lookin Broads too 😎 !

[@rogermaes6001]

@@Zombai-wi4ce That's awfully clear, thanks for the information ...

[@rogermaes6001]

@@iac4357 Dames looked good in this time...🥰

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Is that a dash-cam at 8:40? 📸

[@marshallwem4288]

I wasn't expecting the movie being up to much because of the title. I'm glad to say I was wrong. I thought Kent Smith was 1st class and Nan Smith a good support. Thanks Rob.

[@jeffolsen4983]

What an ending! Thanks!!

[@elmagodelmaryahoo]

Thanks Rob W for this *_cooool_* little storyline ditty, and with a surprisingly 'clean' print copy at a mere 480p..... !!! 👌 Kent Smith was perfectly cast here, where his classic stoic demeanor was ideal to play *The Shrink.* 😎 Nan Martin too, who in right light could well have been a stand-in double for young Lauren Bacall.🧐

[@robtw88]

Glad you liked it!

[@pressureworks]

1:10:54 the 57 Chevy wagon! We had a used black one around 65 or so.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Is that a dash-cam at 8:40? 📸

[@timcargile1562]

It's good to see someone including the release year with the title. Thanks for uploading!

[@robtw88]

Our pleasure!

[@janeevapauck7774]

Well that was a good one, with a surprise ending too. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@robtw88]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamespetersen3933]

Crazy world we live in. Thanks Rob, Another good one.😊

[@Navygrl58]

Holy Toledo! Good thing I’m a nurse and not a cop, because I had the psychiatrist as the suspect from almost to get go!🤦‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😂😂

[@internetcensure5849]

Misled.

[@kevino4846]

Me too, until the time frames he would have had to be there wouldn't line up.

[@yevonnehorn6196]

Yes crazy world we are living in. Sad ending. All over very good movie. Thank you.

[@robtw88]

You're welcome!

[@andywinger4197]

Good movie. Well written, directed and acted.

[@robtw88]

Yes it was!

[@MrRacket991]

Considering the very pulpish B-movie title, that was much better than expected.

[@robtw88]

I agree!

[@thejerseyj5479]

I was so sure the doc was the mugger that I almost stopped watching what I thought was a too obvious ending to this movie. But I hung on and was surprised, and relieved, that he was one of the good guys all along.

[@dianawardrip5171]

The younger sister being a looker eludes me!

[@Theaddora]

I'm glad someone else noticed.

[@johnreitz5676]

Love the accents. Recognize a few actors who had bigger parts in the 1960s and 1970s.

[@bretstanley8931]

I've been watching a lot of B movies lately on KZbin and I liked this one more than most of what I've seen. I also liked The Night Runner and Man Afraid! Thanks for posting!

[@unboundforevermore7649]

WOW! That one was deep Rob W same stories, different years. Thanks

[@ellecee453]

I've seen this two or three times and it's just so good. Great characters, some snappy dialogue and the use of profiling to solve a crime--really a nice taut story. And George Maharis with a goofy haircut! Stellar.

[@robtw88]

So glad you liked it!

[@MJLUCEY-sd1mq]

Without a goofy haircut he would have looked hot. His character. Wasn't hot.

[@paulstark6818]

That was a Gem of a Movie ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@robtw88]

Glad you liked it!

[@Whatt787]

'Everybody's in a hurry!' lol

[@warrenwilson4818]

All new to me, everything except James Fr. who was excellent even as a younger guy. Great plot. Nothing predictable, especially the ending. Nan M. was excellent. Gotta see more of her some time. Aug. 27, 2023.

[@withlurv]

Mll m All k😊

[@solemandd67]

Just before the conclusion, police get into a '57 Ford police car to chase the cab driver, but the subsequent scenes show a '55 Chevrolet police car chasing the cab driver. It's still a good movie. Thanks for posting. 👍🏾📽🎞🍿

[@robtw88]

Thanks for the info

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Is that a dash-cam at 8:40? 📸

[@Offthbadan]

Right.I liked how the wheels screamed when pulling off.Bet those bad boys had some real wheel hop back then. But it wasn’t a good movie. 👍🏿

[@larrywhited3070]

For the younger folks, check minute 51:55 and note the posted "Shelter" signs. This was the era when nuclear war with Russia was considered not only possible, but increasingly likely. Home bomb shelters and community bomb shelters were becoming recommended and popular. Often up to a month's provision of food & water was being stocked to wait out the expected radiation fallout. Emergency drills were being practiced in schools and other institutions. Full-scale nuclear war loomed over us. Not everyone believed that war was coming, but it most definitely was thought possible. Frankly, we handled that crisis with far less overt fear and much more common sense than Covid was handled.

[@vestibulate]

@larrywhited3070 Fallout shelters. What a strange combination of hope and despair.

[@adelebz7]

Kent Smith always appears he has money in every movie or tv show .😌😎

[@vrvretro]

Great! Thanks. The bandage scene was so weird.

[@Victor-ho7tl]

surely an out of the blue decent quality b movie with plenty of grit and unexpected twists true gem

[@MaureenKelly-p8d]

What a brilliant film….thank you 🙏

[@robtw88]

You're welcome!

[@alexandradane3672]

Well…….I didn’t expect this to be as good as it is ! And so many familiar faces too , in their earlier days ! Thank you for the movie and your channel which,I’m delighted to have found - from a new Subscriber .🥂

[@robtw88]

Thanks for the sub!

[@yomama8873]

Thank you great movie 🤩🤩🤩💖💖

[@thegreattomaso2553]

Perfect, solid script and acting. The angles were all worked. Thank you.

[@robtw88]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dianelennon2931]

Mrs Wexler is kind of calm after being mugged!!

[@mikenixon2401]

Very good, and as I enjoy better than expected. Thanks Rob.

[@GLeon-ov9yu]

Thanks for uploading this! Enjoyed the film.

[@davidgonynor2870]

Kent Smith great actor. Was in the invades with Roy thinnes.

[@operadog2000]

Really smart to accuse a psycho of being a murderer while he's driving you in a car without seatbelts.

[@Catquick1957]

I was thinking the same thing before they accused him.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Yeah, they should have spoken to him about it while still on the sidewalk.

[@sharonpolikoff7282]

Two 60s TV stars on the rise - James Franciscus and George Maharis, both to appear in Naked City then star in Mr. Novak and Route 66, respectively.

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

Maharis 633 sq w Robertson 68

[@kevino4846]

@@sulevisydanmaa9981 ???

[@keithharvey7230]

Longstreet

[@billhowes7937]

Seen this one before. Surprisingly good for a "B" movie . Good story and cast.

[@keithharvey7230]

B movies can be as good as A movies

[@flutep2069]

Good movie. Enjoyed watching it.😊

[@robtw88]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Thombierdz]

seen 1000 old movies - this is not the best one out there - but had some very handsome actors in it... and a good last line

[@KASH10043]

Surprisingly good film, exceptional cast and well told story.

[@jimlaguardia8185]

Great cast! Good B movie.

[@robtw88]

Glad you liked it!

[@timothydigiuseppe1753]

Over the top (e.g., the "confession" scene at the police station and the identification by the victims), but consistent. The nightclub owner gives Sherlock Holmes a run for his money. The lead actor (Kent Smith) appeared in a number of notable films including Cat People (1942 - Dir.: Jacques Tourneur) and the sequel The Curse of the Cat People (1944), directed by Gunther von Fritsch and Robert Wise as well as The Fountainhead (1949 - Dir.: King Vidor). A memorable role and perhaps his best performance is that of Dr. Richard Talbot, the infatuated and doomed lover opposite Ann Sheridan in Nora Prentiss (1947 - Dir.: Vincent Sherman).

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

@timothydigiuseppe1753 AGREED. He could be Randy Scott s kid-bro, btw .. very close.

[@elliottschertzer876]

Released October 1958 filmed in Bay Ridge Brooklyn

[@VictorSamuelson-nk5nw]

Thanks I wanted to know the location I’ve lived in New York all my life they took a lot of artistic liberties Great film but a little contrived I believe that is lazy writing but great film

[@elliottschertzer876]

@@VictorSamuelson-nk5nw your welcome the car chase scene towards the end was filmed on the Belt Parkway, notice the Verrazano bridge isn’t there yet?.

[@VictorSamuelson-nk5nw]

@@elliottschertzer876 I knew something was missing I thought maybe it was filmed further up the road you’re right no Verizono bridge that was the last killing by the son of Sam where he killed Stacy Moskowitz and her date I remember how furious Stacy‘s mother was when they caught him and he Revealed his real character and said your daughter was a whore your daughter was a whore it was amazing when I heard that because before that he was a quiet nebich I don’t know if I’m Pronouncing that right

[@elliottschertzer876]

@@VictorSamuelson-nk5nw that’s ok it will do.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

​@@VictorSamuelson-nk5nwBut I'm sure they weren't so lazy as to not use punctuation.🤪

[@toebeans3985]

She played Mrs. Frieda Claxton, the ornery neighbor who wanted a tree removed, on the Golden Girls.

[@paolazuffinetti]

thanks A LOT again!

[@robtw88]

You're welcome!

[@kittyblak393]

Omg Renée, the Nanny's Mom, 🥰🥰🥰, I was like I know that voice,

[@theoriginalDAL357]

I really enjoyed that. Thanks!

[@robtw88]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@freemarketjoe9869]

Jimmy, the manager of the club 6, was the hood called Boss in an episode of the Honeymooners called "Funny money" where Ralph finds a suitcase full of counterfeit money. This was a very enjoyable film. Some of the closeups were laughable, it was so obvious they were shot in studio with a film of the background playing behind the actors. Then they cut to another shot of them actually filmed on the street. All part of the charm of this movie.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

1:05:37+ for example.

[@Whatt787]

Young James Franciscus lighting up a cigarette at 11:50, he would die of Emphysema at age 57, never did stop smoking

[@roccobilly2973]

A little gem A little masterpiece.

[@robtw88]

Glad you liked it!

[@RetiredSchoolCook]

😃 Thank you 🥰 Good movie 👍

[@robtw88]

Glad you liked it!

[@denniscarroll7696]

These "victim" nonchalant attitudes on their previous assaults devastate me, just like it's the thing to do. No post-traumatic stress disorder.

[@kevino4846]

They all took two aspirin. Problem solved.

[@garydavis2688]

No record of this film ever being released in the UK.

[@nelsonandrade2925]

Amo filmes antigos são ótimos e gosto muito desse gênero, principalmente por ser legendados em português, obrigado pela postagem!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Thanks

[@BigBishop1]

the 57 ford cop car turns into a 56 chevy!

[@1949LA-ARCH]

The doctor aka cop is driving a 58 Chrysler😊the nyc patrol car is a 57 Ford😊yep turns into a 56 Chevy

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Is that a dash-cam at 8:40? 📸

[@princesspiplaysbass]

If he is on the GI bill then he was in the military so there would be a record of his fingerprints.Big boo boo!

[@pressureworks]

Not really they said the prints were checked in criminal databases. So military prints wouldn't be in there. Silly bunt.

[@kevinmadden1645]

Why not contact the military's finger print records?

[@plunkervillerr1529]

James Franciscus must have been doing this and Naked City at the same time.

[@Whatt787]

Dead at age 57 from cigarette smoking

[@corallewis3093]

Good clean movie compared to these days! Ty

[@maggiemae7539]

How is murder clean?

[@corallewis3093]

@maggiemae7539 let me spell it out for you.. not so Gory... Bad Swear Words.. Seems you asked a silly question#?# just saying..

[@internetcensure5849]

She says, it wasn't an attack, and the doctor says he was not a rapist. So, rapists were not considered attackers back then.😂

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

​@@internetcensure5849No, he said that to clarify that by "attack" she meant "rape".

[@artgirl7649]

They're calling Jeannie a very pretty woman? The girl looks strange especially with those bangs. Also, the woman who gets slashed at her garage door gets up and runs after her assailant? A very odd thing to do.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

I didn't know anyone wore mullets in 1958.

[@artgirl7649]

​@@scarygary-qq1pj It looks like someone played a joke on her and while she was asleep came along and cut her bangs off! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@Victor-ho7tl]

pretty good fare... even had a few somewhat interesting twists... made for a nice experience

[@mrtomdorn]

Oh they are not concerned about their face. At all.

[@denniscarroll7696]

...no, they don't care about anything, it's like they have no qualms about being victimized.

[@sherryblatt4459]

Now days they need a therapy animal when someone doesn’t agree with them!!!🙆‍♀️😂

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

​@@sherryblatt4459NOWADAYS

[@browill9]

Good movie. The ending was great.

[@duanehill4911]

Love it!

[@robtw88]

So glad!

[@berylbattrick1246]

GOOD MOVIE THANK YOU.

[@Woodman-Spare-that-tree]

He’d find it easier wearing a hoodie and a 😷 than a trenchcoat and trilby 😂

[@washoe4827]

The drunken sailor forgot his cap...!

[@waynesworld7804]

So her left cheek was slashed the night before and it’s fully healed the next day?

[@johnwhite4810]

Simple but enjoyable.

[@robtw88]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@iac4357]

Good enjoyable Movie, Thanks !

[@robtw88]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@markr.devereux3385]

Ed McBain inspired film. The novelist creates his share of strange minor characters in his police dramas. I recall one where a crew of midgets pulled a stri g of armed robberies across NYC.

[@Rose-jz6ix]

I'm from Australia and read as many Ed McBain stories I could find in second hand stores. Liked all I had.🇦🇺😊❤️🦘

[@BeachsideHank]

@@Rose-jz6ix I don't think Michael Pate ever did a McBain plot, but he sure as hell played just about everything else including a vampire- an amazing actor.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

I knew this was going to be a good movie when I saw that it was approved with certificate #18877.🙄

[@BruceJackson-lx2dw]

Do look out for the stunningly attractive [name ?] actress playing the cigarette girl at the club [@ about 58 minutes]. The film is well worth watching, BUT she is an added bonus [for male viewers].

[@amarreder6241]

I've seen this.

[@keithharvey7230]

John Alexander was mad cousin Teddy in Arsenic and old lace.Charge!!!!!

[@Mickydodo]

not bad at all quite relaxing 😂 but i knew the bad. guy from the start.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Because he didn't use capital letters?🤪

[@MJLUCEY-sd1mq]

Two questions; why did she need to give him the gun? Why did she do it so the guy could see. His possible defense; he killed the girl because his wife would be sooo mad at her, and now her sister only feels sorry for her. Nice guy. Another question; what was the series of psychiatrist movies where IIRC, the guy committed a crime, got amnesia, became a doctor then remembered he was a crook, and devoted his life to solving crimes?

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

Another defence would be that it was a mercy-killing because of her mullet.🤪

[@survivaltrekker6677]

At 33:20, did he say the four letter word that begins with "F"? I can't remember ever seeing a 1950s movie where saying this four letter word was allowed. Also, at 17:23, actor George Maharis says, "I'll kill you for that.", when he tries to kiss Jeannie and she refuses him and refuses to go out with him. Because of his comment, I would have extended the movie and changed the ending to the following: James Franciscus thought he killed her, but maybe strangled her and she passed out. He ran away from the scene of what he thought was a murder. She regained consciousness and got up from the ground. She started to walk and was going to get help. But in the meantime, George Maharis was following her. He was hiding and saw her and James Franciscus. He saw that it was the perfect murder for him to commit as he would never be blamed for it and James Franciscus would be the one to take the blame. So, as she was walking to look for help, George Maharis finished her off and murdered her. Later on, some way, the police would find out he was the real murderer. Except for changing the ending, I thought this movie was excellent. It had a lot of depth and complexity. Another comment: I thought that the girl who played the blond who was attacked reminded me of two other actresses. She acted and had a voice like a combination of Shelley Winters and Gloria Grahame.

[@washoe4827]

He said, "The first punk..."

[@RaveDave871]

Hey that F word is THUG ! 😂😂😂😂😂😅

[@survivaltrekker6677]

Gee, ya know I played it over and over again, Still sounds like the F word. I sure would like the script on this to see exactly what he said. I'd love to agree with you as I can't believe that the F word would be allowed in a 1958 movie. @@RaveDave871

[@RaveDave871]

Certainly no way was the F word be allowed in those days. Only way it could survive on film is if censor heard that word as something different. Hays Code forbid that word anywhere !

[@survivaltrekker6677]

I realized we can read the script while we watch it, and you are right, the word is "punk". Thanks for the correction!!!!!!!!!!@@washoe4827

[@tpe54]

1:06:22 wow! pizza 15 cents a slice

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

That would be $1.62 as of 22FEB2024.

[@RodneyRawling]

...tee...hee...

[@tsimmons121]

Cheers

[@joep8787]

Nan Martin was not a good actress. She showed no fear or worry whatsoever when the car was going excessively fast and it looked like he was going to deliberately crack up the car. Kent Smith looked and acted really scared, as I would've been. Those old cars had no seat belts or airbags.

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

THE C O D E GOT THE PERP, not the prop ...still in 58 it H A D to be that way !

[@VictorSamuelson-nk5nw]

I remember when pizzas $.15 a slice they show that sign in the window pizza $.15 they made everybody with an exaggerator Brooklyn accent whoever wrote the script doesn’t know how real people act these were cartoon characters not people

[@lydiawilcocks2667]

Had to shop watching the film..

[@miladydewinter7770]

I had this sussed at 49:40 - just call me Miss Marple

[@kurtgrotz]

great nior

[@davidweston9115]

8:22 shows the Kojak "manhattan south"/ Sipowicz "15th squad" police station, with sign 69Pct. Is this really the 129th or was the sign phony for the film? I wonder how many cop shows use this particular station?

[@larrynelson3329]

All the women seem to like the police lieutenant. He was never the romantic lead in any other movie? He played Joan Crawford's boyfriend in The Damned Dont Cry, but she dimped him for the crime mob boss.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

DUMPED

[@larrynelson3329]

@@scarygary-qq1pj sorry, but sometimes I hit wrong button or spell check changes it

[@flynnlizzy5469]

The 51 year old irresistible stud shrink flat foot - even to an 18 year old, lmao !! One of the worst, even for a B movie, its comical: "Ever been to a Turkish bath ... ?" I almost p*ssed myself !!

[@walte153]

The poor acting was only surpassed by the totally implausible script. Does every "small town hustler" from Chicago check in at a Turkish bath? Nonsense. As soon the cop got a matchbook I knew it HAD to be from a "club"... and the rare cigarette brand? What luck! This was almost like a parody.

[@richardjones186]

Why does the Jeannie corpse at 44:15 look nothing like Jeannie as depicted in the rest of the film?

[@johnfitzgerald2339]

Terrible acting and script. I LOVED it; especially that Academy Award winning dialogue by the ferry-ramp operator at the end. So I guess we don't need an epilogue letting us know how Molly Baxter made out being a newly widowed expectant mother after having just learning her sister was murdered by her recently cuisinart'ed husband?

[@washoe4827]

She had a son, who she named Wayne Williams, then they moved to Atlanta...

[@johnfitzgerald2339]

@@washoe4827 🤣 The date matches! Chip off the ol' block of anthracite.

[@kevino4846]

She went on welfare, where she remains to this day.

[@Lyfs-Awsumm]

15 CENTS FOR A SLICE OF PIZZA!!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@Whatt787]

$2.00 in today's money

[@EdelweisSusie]

You can spot the bad guy in the first 5 minutes. Not a mentally taxing film.

[@tomdooley4226]

Kinda cheesy but nostalgia fun. 👈

[@arieswaters]

I like this movie put it it is so funny silly corny like a 22 minutes where are you going Mack. All right Mac explain yourself

[@keithharvey7230]

Beah Richards Guess who's coming to dinner.

[@mickeybitsko1676]

When did dime a dance jernts give us the go by

[@thankthelord4536]

Kent smith imo hasn't an ounce of sex appeal. But i liked him in "Nora Prentiss".

[@Theaddora]

I think he's very distinguished.