Strange Affair (1944)

A cartoonist (Allyn Joslyn) has a propensity to stick his nose in police business much to the consternation of the head (Edgar Buchanan) of the homicide department. When a man the comic strip artist was supposed to pick up turns up dead, he gets suspicious and begins to investigate. Based on the short story STALK THE HUNTER by Oscar Saul and directed by Alfred E. Green (BABY FACE). I'm partial to comedic murder mysteries but while I was entertained by the mystery aspects of the film, I found the comedy lame and often juvenile. Allyn Joslyn wasn't a leading man, he was a supporting player and based on this film, one can see why. He's just not strong enough to carry a movie. But the rest of the cast are decent and sometimes, more than that. With Evelyn Keyes, Nina Foch, Marguerite Chapman, Carole Mathews, Hugo Haas and Shemp Howard, who has one good comedic bit.