Scene Of The Crime (1949)

A police detective (Van Johnson) attempts to crack a case involving the killing of another cop suspected of being on the take from bookies. This necessitates romancing a showgirl (Gloria DeHaven) to get information which doesn't sit well with his wife (Arlene Dahl), who hates him being a cop anyway. This is a pretty lifeless crime drama that's not dark enough to be called noir and not enough suspense to be referred to as a thriller. Johnson is possibly the least likely actor one would think of for a tough talking cop and while he gives it the old college try, he's never quite convincing enough though it does provide DeHaven with one of the best roles MGM ever gave her. The uneventful plot doesn't sit well with the glossy MGM studio bound treatment, it might have been better if it had gone the faux semi-documentary shot on location route of something like Dassin's THE NAKED CITY. Directed by Roy Rowland with a brief forgettable score by Andre Previn. The supporting cast is first rate though: John McIntire, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Norman Lloyd, Jerome Cowan, Anthony Caruso and Donald Woods.