Johnny Angel (1945)

Set in New Orleans, the captain (George Raft) of a cargo ship discovers another cargo ship derelict at sea. There is no one aboard but traces of blood are found. The captain is compelled to solve the mystery because the captain of the seemingly abandoned ship was his father (J. Farrell MacDonald). Based on the novel MR. ANGEL COMES ABOARD by Charles Gordon Booth and directed by Edwin L. Marin (MAISIE). This maritime noir isn't half bad but its male lead weighs it down. I've never warmed to George Raft. He may have a certain presence but as an actor, he's a stiff. He rat-a-tat-tats his lines like a trained seal but with all the emotion of an ice cube. Still, if you can overcome that, you'll find a tight and skillful mystery. Fortunately, the two female leads compensate for Raft's lethargy. Claire Trevor makes for a formidable hard bitten femme fatale and Signe Hasso makes for a lovely damsel in distress. There's a nice score by Leigh Harline to accompany it all. With Hoagy Carmichael, Margaret Wycherly, Marvin Miller, Lowell Gilmore and Ann Codee.