Back home

Dressed to Kill

24 votes

Producing House

A detective's wedding is postponed when gunshots are heard nearby.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1941-08-08

Runtime: 74 mins

Director: Eugene Forde

Spoken language: English

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

Original title: Dressed to Kill

Production Companies: 20th Century Fox

Production Countries: United States of America

Reviews

G

Geronimo1967
Lloyd Nolan was quite good as the slightly acerbic detective “Shayne” and this one moves along amiably for an hour or so as he has to investigate a very am-dram version of “The Phantom of the Opera”. All of this isn’t impressing “Joanne” (Mary Beth Hughes) who just wanted to get him, replete in his brand new suit, away for long enough to get themselves married. These theatrical types prove ripe for his investigation not least arch-ham “Julian” (Henry Daniell) and the deaf-as-a-post porter “Carlo” (Erwin Kalser) who work together with the hapless but entertaining cop “Pierson” (William Demarest) who possibly couldn’t find his own teeth in his own mouth as our quick-witted sleuth lays a cunning trap to ensnare the murderous felon - complete with a secret passage! There are a few red herrings here to keep it intriguing and the story doesn’t quite follow the line I was expecting. Essentially this is a vehicle for the on-form Nolan to deliver an amiable crime drama very much in the vein of you scratch my back and I’ll scratch it too. You might spot the long-suffering comic foil to “Charlie Chan” - Montand Moreland in here, too, as it sails along effortlessly.
2025-06-05

Recommendations

Larceny in Her Heart
3

Larceny in Her Heart

1946-05-20

In the second of the PRC "Michael Shayne" series,civic crusader Burton Stallings hires private detec

I, the Jury
2.9

I, the Jury

1953-08-14

After his best friend and war buddy is mysteriously gunned down, Mike Hammer will stop at nothing to

I, the Jury
2.9

I, the Jury

1982-04-22

Jack Williams was the best friend of Vietnam veteran and detective Mike Hammer. When Jack is murdere

Blonde for a Day
2.5

Blonde for a Day

1946-06-10

Hugh Beaumont stars as detective "Michael Shayne" in this 1946 B-film.

Murder Is My Business
3

Murder Is My Business

1946-03-07

Michael Shayne is a private detective who is disliked greatly by Pete Rafferty, local chief of polic

Three on a Ticket
2.9

Three on a Ticket

1947-04-04

A private detective, who has been shot, stumbles into the office of Michael Shayne (Hugh Beaumont),

The Maltese Falcon
3.2

The Maltese Falcon

1931-05-23

A lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught

Time to Kill
2.8

Time to Kill

1942-12-24

Lloyd Nolan is back as detective Michael Shayne who's in search of a stolen coin.

Black Magic
3.5

Black Magic

1944-08-19

Chinese detective Charlie Chan solves a murder linked to the occult.

Too Many Winners
2.8

Too Many Winners

1947-05-24

Michael Shayne mystery involving counterfeit tickets at a race track.

To Kill For
2.5

To Kill For

1992-09-09

A homicide detective (Michael Madsen) falls for a resort owner (Laura Johnson) suspected of slaying

Michael Shayne: Private Detective
3.3

Michael Shayne: Private Detective

1940-12-19

Millionaire sportsman Hiram Brighton hires gumshoe Michael Shayne to keep his spoiled daughter Phyll

The Mad Bomber
2.5

The Mad Bomber

1973-04-01

Los Angeles detectives Minelli and Blake must track down a serial rapist who may know the identity o

Blue, White, and Perfect
3.1

Blue, White, and Perfect

1942-01-06

In order to win back his girlfriend, Mike Shayne promises to give up his detective practice and get

Just Off Broadway
2.5

Just Off Broadway

1942-08-28

Private detective Michael Shayne is on the case again, but this time he's stuck on a jury for a murd

Sleepers West
3.1

Sleepers West

1941-03-14

Private eye Mike Shayne encounters a large amount of trouble while attempting to guard a murder witn

Contract on Cherry Street
3.1

Contract on Cherry Street

1977-11-19

A policeman devises an unorthodox plan for bringing criminals to justice after his partner is brutal

The Man Who Wouldn't Die
3.2

The Man Who Wouldn't Die

1942-04-27

A man believed to be dead and buried escapes from his grave and returns to the scene of the crime se

Summertime Killer
2.9

Summertime Killer

1972-07-01

During his childhood, a boy sees four men drown his father; now, the grown young man makes it his bu

TekWar: TekLords
3

TekWar: TekLords

1994-02-20

Despite being imprisoned, tek lord Sonny Hokori manages to run his drug empire. A virus, which is no