THE MURDER MAN-1935-Interesting murder mystery with Spencer Tracy (he did DANTE'S INFERNO the same year) as an alcoholic reporter who's court testimony convicts a con-man and sentences him to the death penalty. The great Lionel Atwill plays the chief of police. Virginia Bruce (who was later in PARDON MY SARONG with Abbott & Costello and Atwill) is the female lead and James Stewart makes his screen debut as a reporter named Shorty.
THE ALPHABET MURDERS-1966-Weird black and white comedic adaptation of Agatha Christie's mystery novel features Tony Randall as Belgium detective Hercule Pirot. Robert Morley is an inept English secret service man. Anita Ekberg (five years after LA DOCE VITA) is the mystery woman with the initials A B C. I guess it was done to compete with THE PINK PANTHER series (SHOT IN THE DARK was made the year before). Others in the cast include Guy Rolfe, Maurice Denham, Julian Glover and Patrick Newell (4 years before his role as "Mother" on TV's THE AVENGERS). During the opening credits Pirot talks to the audience.
Director Frank Tashlin had previously directed Randall in WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER?
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