Jeanne Crain, Jean Peters & Richard Boone in "Vicki" (1953) - feat. Richard Boone & Aaron Spelling

After the slaying of New York glamour girl Vicki Lynn (Jean Peters), zealous homicide detective Lt. Ed Cornell (Richard Boone) insists on canceling his vacation and heading the investigation.
At police headquarters, Cornell grills Steve Christopher (Elliott Reid), the promoter responsible for Vicki's career, and Jill Lynn (Jeanne Crain), Vicki's sister.
Christopher relates how he met Vicki several months before, with influential columnist Larry Evans (Max Showalter, as Casey Adams), returning from the opening night of a new play starring their friend, Robin Ray (Alexander D'Arcy). Christopher and Evans meet Vicki at the cafeteria where she works, and assure Vicki that Christopher, a successful publicity man, could help her become New York's top model.
Back at the police station, Jill tells Police Capt. J. 'Chief' Donald (John Dehner), the head of homicide, that during the next few months, Vicki's fame grew. The chief asks if any men had bothered Vicki, and Jill remembers that one mysterious man would hang around the cafeteria, staring intently at Vicki. Jill is horrified when Cornell enters the room and she recognizes him as the man she described. Cornell insists that Christopher is the killer, but he and Jill are released because Harry Williams (Aaron Spelling), the switchboard operator at Jill and Vicki's building, is missing and is presumed to be the killer.
The next day, Jill moves into a new apartment, she discovers a note from Christopher to Vicki. Jill gives Christopher the note, but Cornell grabs it and handcuffs Christopher. Jill knocks Cornell unconscious, admits that she loves Christopher, and the couple embraces. Christopher then asks Jill to meet him at a repair shop to remove the handcuffs, but when she arrives, she is arrested. Hoping that Jill will lead him to Christopher, Cornell has her released.
Evans admits that just before Vicki was killed, he escorted her to her apartment, and Harry was not at the desk. Evans climbed up the fire escape and upon entering Vicki's apartment, smelled cigarette smoke but dismissed it. Realizing that Harry must have murdered Vicki, Christopher enlists police sergeant McDonald and Jill to help trap him, and soon after, the addled Harry, who secretly loved Vicki, confesses.
Harry also reveals that Cornell was aware of his guilt but let him go. Enraged that Cornell tried to frame him, Christopher goes to the detective's apartment, and is astonished to find a shrine of candles and flowers in front of photographs of Vicki. Cornell admits he was in love with Vicki and blames Christopher for taking her away from him. Christopher tells Cornell that Vicki had no interest in him, and Cornell, in despair, begs Christopher to shoot him. Christopher cannot do it, however, and Mac arrests the crestfallen detective. In the daylight, Christopher and Jill kiss and hold hands as they walk along the street, impervious to the fact that Vicki's posters are being covered with those of a new glamour girl.
A 1953 American Black & White film-noir crime film directed by Harry Horner, produced by Leonard Goldstein, screenplay by Dwight Taylor, based on Steve Fisher's novel "I Wake Up Screaming" (1941), cinematography by Milton R. Krasner, starring Jeanne Crain, Jean Peters, Elliott Reid, Richard Boone, Max Showalter, Alexander D'Arcy (as Alex D'Arcy), Carl Betz, Aaron Spelling, and John Dehner. Final screen appearance of Izetta Jewel.
Jean Peters soon gave up acting to marry Howard Hughes.
It's notable to see TV's Paladin, Richard Boone, acting with radio's Paladin, John Dehner.
An early sequence shows the Circus Gardens, which opened in 1953, with Ocean Park standing in for Elizabeth, N.J.
This is a (nearly scene-for-scene) routine remake of the "I Wake Up Screaming" (1941) starring Betty Grable, Victor Mature, and Carole Landis.
The classic movie "Laura" (1944) is playing in the all-night movie house, and the lines are from the police interrogation scene featuring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. In a reference to that movie, this film opens with a view of Vicki's portrait, which looks eerily like Laura's portrait, same pose, same dress, as if Gene Tierney's head was replaced by Jean Peters' head.
On Vicki's bedroom wall is a print of the painting "Pinkie" by Thomas Lawrence. Jeanne Crain starred in "Pinky" (1949). The other famous painting in the movie is, Blue Boy, by Thomas Gainsborough.
Soundtrack music:
"Vicki" - Written by Ken Darby and Max Showalter
"I Know Why (and So Do You)" - Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics Mack Gordon, Performed by Jean Peters
"How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You?" - Music by Jimmy McHugh, Lyrics Harold Adamson, Performed by Jean Peters
"Give Me the Simple Life" - Music by Rube Bloom
Intriguing, imperfect but beautiful remake of an undeservedly obscure classic 40s obsession-murder thriller. This feisty, low budget, part whodunit and part film-noir, rises above its material, with some excellent touches. Worth a look primarily for completists.

[@chicsartorial]

One of the BEST movie channels here.

[@revvyhevvy]

I agree completely!

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your support. Wishing you and yours all the best this holiday season.

[@rubytuesday5412]

I really appreciate the detailed intros you give before each movie. It was good to keep an eye out for the references you gave to the movie 'Laura' and 'Pinkie.' I love bits of movie trivia. Thanks *Mr. Borchers.* Your work is very much appreciated.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome. I try. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it.

[@lindas.johnson4779]

GREAT MOVIE! I love these old black & whites. Great Cast❤

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Glad you enjoyed it! I posted 1950s movies here: kzbin.info/aero/PLk3CReZFhoBftGK1yVquYQaqGxnTF4yqH

[@chicojcf]

Tremendous cast.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Roger that. Welcome.

[@Grampvoorhees513]

Nothing beats golden age film noir. Thanks for the upload.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome. I post Film-Noir movies here: kzbin.info/aero/PLk3CReZFhoBdmvlwKX6IUWKvdVZAqcPxz

[@joannegibson-lucas3791]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks for posting!!!

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Glad you enjoyed it! Welcome.

[@gemmaremington-hw8hd]

Great film, kept me guessing right till the very end. I didn't know that Aaron Spelling, I've only known him as a producer of Dynasty and Knots Landing etc acted. Really first rate acting from him as the creepy receptionist. Richard Boone excellent as the hard bitten Inspector. And oh, the melodrama of it all!!!! Thank you for uploading this.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

Love the cast. Two very talented and beautiful women ❤️❤

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Roger that. Thanks for watching.

[@RetiredSchoolCook]

🥰Great movie 👍Great cast

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Roger that.

[@dbarker7794]

Terrific movie. Great beginning. Thanks, Mr Borchers.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danielfairclough9885]

First classic film classic channel

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome.

[@ElkoJohn]

Much obliged.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome.

[@williamleahy8478]

Excellent.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@g.r.bryant2258]

Jeanne Crain movies were always good.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Roger that. Thanks for watching.

[@jeremyb4493]

That police interrogation was hilarious😄

[@63bplumb]

You don't think they happen/happened that way? No one in their right mind says Anything without an attorney present!

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for watching.

[@tracywilliams7929]

John Dehner 43:21 would go on to co-star with Richard Boone but in a unique way. They would star in the same role at the same time but in different media. Both would play Paladin in Have Gun Will Travel but Dehner in radio, Boone on TV.

[@None-zc5vg]

Dehner had quite a 'pedigree' for an actor who deserved bigger parts than the hundreds of appearances that he made on film and television. He had even been an 'animator' at the Walt Disney studios.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for the info!

[@randyacuna5643]

Jean peters was absolutely stunning. In Niagara, it was peters I could not keep my eyes off , not Monroe.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@MikeyD22]

In my opinion, the wrong sister was cast as the glamor girl.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@tracywilliams7929]

"If men want to look at me why shouldn't they pay for it?" 1953 and she sounds just like an OnlyFans model of the 21st century. The more things change the more they stay the same.

[@elaineteeter9485]

The difference was that the beautiful women in 1953 kept their clothes on and didn't degrade themselves. Today they are nothing more than prostitutes, very sad.

[@Grampvoorhees513]

Great point.💯

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@HAPPYTHELEAF]

Jean Peters, was she married to Howard Hughes...

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Yes, the wed in n 1957. They met in the 1940s, before Peters became a film actress.

[@catherinebrims8986]

Great Old movie back then they did not know cigarettes caused cancer.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Roger that. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brunodesamber5714]

The. Perfecsun. From. A. Classic. Movie. 🎞 whit. Fantastic. Script. And. Story. 🖥 tarific. Film. To. Watch. 💯💥💫💢 🎉🎉🎉 movie. To. See. 🎥 thanks. D p. 👌😁

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wrsmith711]

hard to imagine Richard Boone as a total whacko...

[@tracywilliams7929]

Try seeing him in The Kremlin Letter, a cold war spy movie in which he plays cold-hearted psychopath, legendary spy Sturtevant. In the industry it was said of him just point him in the right direction and duck! I remember the novel by Noel Behn was a little too real for my teen brain. The author was an actual spy out of Stanford, a former professional basketball player turned stage manager, then novelist. Behn became known for his graphic, kinky sex scenes and ruthless violence mixed in with convincing spycraft. You will see Boone in a different light. This movie is mild!

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for sharing.

[@nickmoore9643]

A person knows this homicide detective name so find out where the detective lives go through his garbage find out if he's married and if so her name does he have any kids if so what school do they attend what are there names. This will require some foot work but with a little effort one can find out so much by going through one's garbage. This or any cop if the cop knows that someone they're messing with knows where they live who they're married to and their kids name(s) at that point no one else ever did this so things maybe different for this man.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@oz93666]

41:39 He said that without moving his lips

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Ha! Welcome.

[@maxlinder5262]

Remake of ...I Wake up Screaming ......with. Grable..& Mature ..... which is .💯...percent Better ... just my opinion 😊

[@peterkingsley8736]

I agree with your opinion. The question is WHY the remake in the first place and so soon after the original

[@Richard-t7q1f]

@@peterkingsley8736 I suspect it was a follow up to Laura. Not in the same class and doesn't have the horse power in any respect although its a good movie.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for the info!

[@leroybrown-coco]

Good movie just not as good as the original one from 1941. "I wake up screaming", With Betty Grable. That one was really good.

[@DonaldPBorchersOG]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Welcome.