Flaxy Martin
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| Flaxy Martin | |
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 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Richard L. Bare |
| Produced by | Saul Elkins |
| Written by | David Lang |
| Starring | Virginia Mayo Zachary Scott Dorothy Malone |
| Music by | William Lava |
| Cinematography | Carl E. Guthrie |
| Editing by | Frank Magee |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | February 15, 1949 (U.S.A.) |
| Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Flaxy Martin (1949) is a film noir directed by Richard L. Bare. The crime thriller features Virginia Mayo, Zachary Scott, Dorothy Malone, among others. The picture was based on a story written by David Lang.[1]
The film tells of mob lawyer Walter Colby (Zachary Scott), who's involvement with a crime syndicate and a femme fatale, get him in trouble.
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[edit] Plot
The drama begins with a murder and a screaming witness. The witness to the crime tells the police that she can identify the murderer and will never forget his face. Mob attorney Walter Colby (Scott) is called by crime boss Hap Richie (Douglas Kennedy) in the middle of the night to arrange the release of a Caesar (Jack Overman), one of his mobsters arrested for the murder. After Colby does so he tells his girlfriend, the unscrupulous mob-connected showgirl Flaxy Martin (Mayo), that he wants to quit the organization and become respectable.
Meanwhile, the syndicate arranges for Peggy Farrar (Helen Westcott) to falsely testify on behalf of Caesar. After Caesar is cleared of the charges she changes her mind. Flaxy and Caesar go visit Peggy at her apartment to give her a rough time about her decision and Caesar ends up killing Peggy violently.
Due to circumstantial evidence, Flaxy is suspected of murdering Peggy. Not realizing her involvement in the killing, Colby tells the police that he did the killing. His plan was to defend himself and get him and Flaxy off. Unfortunately, Flaxy and Hap Richie set him up during the trial and Colby is sentenced for Peggy's murder. As Colby awaits transportation to prison, Sam Malko (Tom D'Andrea), a friend of Colby and former client, tells him that Caesar had been getting drunk and bragging that Colby was sentenced for a killing he committed (the murder of Peggy). Sam also wonders why Flaxy was not helping Colby since she must know the same information.
On his way to prison to serve 20 years, Colby escapes and when he gets to the highway he passes out in front of motorist Nora Carson (Malone). Nora helps Colby get to the city to find out how he got framed. Colby realizes that Flaxy was not the woman she pretended to be.
In the city Colby finds Caesar dead. He later ends up in Flaxy's apartment as mobster Hap Richie arrives. She pulls the gun on both men and as she shoots wildly in the dark, Flaxy kills Hap. Colby calls the police and they arrest Flaxy for his murder.
[edit] Cast
- Virginia Mayo as Flaxy Martin
- Zachary Scott as Walter "Walt" Colby
- Dorothy Malone as Nora Carson
- Tom D'Andrea as Sam Malko
- Helen Westcott as Peggy Farrar
- Douglas Kennedy as Hap Richie
- Elisha Cook Jr. as Roper
- Douglas Fowley as Max, Detective
- Monte Blue as Joe, Detective
- Jack Overman as Caesar
[edit] Critical reception
Critic Hal Erickson lauded the film director and wrote, "Director Richard L. Bare had only recently moved up from the "Joe McDoakes" comedy shorts to features when he guided Flaxy Martin with skill and aplomb."[2]
[edit] Noted quote
- Hap Richie (looking at Flaxy Martin): "I always say, 'When you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.'"
[edit] References
- ^ Flaxy Martin at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Erikson, Hal. Flaxy Martin at Allmovie.
[edit] External links
- Flaxy Martin at the Internet Movie Database.
- Flaxy Martin at Allmovie.
- Flaxy Martin at the TCM Movie Database.
- Flaxy Martin trailer at Back Alley Noir.
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