Nocturne (1946)

When a composer (Edward Ashley) and ladies man is found dead with a bullet to the head, it's deemed a suicide. But a police detective (George Raft) isn't convinced and pursues other avenues to find a murderer. Directed by Edwin L. Marin (TALL IN THE SADDLE), this crime mystery with noir-ish trimmings is capsized by Raft's somnambulistic performance. His police detective is a bit of an arrogant bully. A Bogart or a Mitchum could have gotten away with it but Raft doesn't have their charisma or style. It's a pity because with stronger direction and a more appealing lead actor, this could have made for a superior film noir. As it is, it's a tolerable entry. Some of the acting is pretty good. Notably, Lynn Bari as the chief suspect in the murder, Myrna Dell as a hard boiled ex-con working as a maid, Mabel Paige as Raft's mother and Joseph Pevney (who would switch to directing movies like MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES) as a piano player. The film was a modest hit. With Virginia Huston, Walter Sande, Queenie Smith, Dorothy Adams and Robert Anderson.