''The Cobra Strikes'' is a 1948 American

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means ...

directed by

Charles Reisner Charles Francis Reisner (March 14, 1887 – September 24, 1962) was an American film director and actor of the 1920s and 1930s. The German-American directed over 60 films between 1920 and 1950 and acted in over 20 films between 1916 and 1 ...

and starring

Sheila Ryan Sheila Ryan (born Katherine Elizabeth McLaughlin, June 8, 1921 – November 4, 1975) was an American actress who appeared in more than 60 movies. Career Born in Topeka, Kansas, Ryan went to Hollywood in 1939 at the age of 18. Her acting career b ...

, Richard Fraser, and

Leslie Brooks Leslie Brooks (born Virginia Leslie Gettman; July 13, 1922 – July 1, 2011) was an American film actress, model and dancer. Early life Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, her parents brought her to Southern California at an early age, where aroun ...

.Hischak p.259 IN the UK, it was released as ''Crime Without Clues''.

Plot

Dr. Damon Cameron is shot while leaving his laboratory in route to a state medical banquet where he planned to reveal his new invention. At the time his twin brother Ted is keeping an appointment with Victor Devereaux and Franz Lang, colleagues in his importing business, at a local club. Devereaux angerly warns Ted to stay away from his wife. A brain surgeon believes he might be able to save Damon, but there will be severe memory loss. Police captain Monihan and Sergeant Harris have informed Cameron's daughter Dale and brother Ted of the shooting. With the police captain's permission, Mike Kent, a newspaper writer and crime investigator, searches Damon's laboratory, but finds nothing. Mike meets with one of Ted's business partners, Hyder Ali from India, at the Safari Club's steam room. They both become suspects when Victor Devereaux dies hidden by the steam. Olga Kaminoff arrives at Devereaux's funeral claiming to be the love of his life, and when she asks to see the body, they find the coffin empty. When the body is found in a bay the autopsy reveals the cause of death was poison. Monihan arrests Lang, as Kent suspects a connection between Damon's invention and Devereaux's murder. Monihan arranges a meeting with all the suspects, Dale, and Ted. While watching a home movie of a hunting trip in India, Dale notices that an ivory elephant of value has disappeared from the mantel. Lang is killed by the same poison that killed Devereaux, cobra venom. Ali is then found dead with the ivory elephant nearby. When Damon recovers enough to reveal that his invention is an insulin hypo-spray, he also mentions that only his brother knew of it. Mike figures that Ted is the criminal, but Ted then takes Dale hostage with threats to poison her as well. Mike and the cops outwit Ted and capture him; then Olga is revealed to be mystery story writer. After the murders are solved Mike and Dale realize that they appear to have a bit of romantic chemistry.

Cast

as Dale Cameron * Richard Fraser as Michael Kent *

as Olga Kaminoff *

Herbert Heyes Herbert Harrison Heyes (August 3, 1889 – May 31, 1958) was an American film actor. He appeared in nearly 100 films between 1915 and 1956, including the famed 1947 film ''Miracle on 34th Street'', in which he played an ahistorical "Mr. Gimbel, ...

as Theodore Cameron / Dr. Damon Cameron *

James Seay James Seay (September 9, 1914 – October 10, 1992) was an American character actor who often played minor supporting roles as government officials. Early years Seay demonstrated an interest in acting at an early age, as he and his mothe ...

as Police Capt. Monihan *

Richard Loo Richard Loo (October 1, 1903 – November 20, 1983) was an American film actor who was one of the most familiar Asian character actors in American films of the 1930s and 1940s. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1982. Early lif ...

as Hyder Ali *

Lyle Latell Lyle Latell (born Lyle Zeiem; April 9, 1904 – October 24, 1967) was an American character actor. He was perhaps best known for playing Pat Patton in the ''Dick Tracy'' film series. Biography Latell was born Lyle Zeiem on April 1904 in ...

as Police Sgt. Harris * Pat Flaherty as Atlas Kilroy *

Philip Ahn Philip Ahn (born Pillip Ahn (), March 29, 1905 – February 28, 1978) was an American actor and activist of Korean descent. With over 180 film and television credits between 1935 and 1978, he was one of the most recognizable and prolific Asi ...

as Kasim—Houseboy * Fred Nurney as Franz Lang *

Leslie Denison Leslie may refer to: * Leslie (name), a name and list of people with the given name or surname, including fictional characters Families * Clan Leslie, a Scottish clan with the motto "grip fast" * Leslie (Russian nobility), a Russian noble family ...

as Morton—New Butler * George Sorel as Victor Devereaux *

Selmer Jackson Selmer Adolf Jackson (May 7, 1888 – March 30, 1971) was an American stage film and television actor. He appeared in nearly 400 films between 1921 and 1963. His name was sometimes spelled Selmar Jackson. Jackson was born in Lake Mills, Iowa an ...

as Dr. Keating *

Dean Riesner Dean Riesner (November 3, 1918 – August 18, 2002) was an American film and television writer. Biography Riesner was born in New Rochelle, New York. His father, Charles Reisner, was a German American silent film director, and Dean began actin ...

as Detective Brody * Howard Negley as Safari Club Doorman *

Milton Parsons Ernest Milton Parsons (May 19, 1904 – May 15, 1980) was an American character actor. He appeared in more than 160 films and television shows between 1939 and 1978. In 1927, Parsons performed with The Strolling Players of Boston acting c ...

as Mr. Weems, Mortician *

George Chandler George Chandler (June 30, 1898 – June 10, 1985) was an American actor who starred in over 140 feature films, usually in smaller supporting roles, and he is perhaps best known for playing the character of Uncle Petrie Martin on the televi ...

as Joe Gates - Night Watchman *

Virginia Farmer Virginia Farmer (born October 19, 1975, in San Luis Obispo, California, United States) is an American Samoan swimmer, who specialized in sprint freestyle events. At age thirty-two, Farmer made her official debut for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Be ...

as Mrs. Gause - Housekeeper * Victor Cutler as Policeman at Conclusion * James Logan as Bartender

References

Bibliography

* Thomas S. Hischak. ''The Encyclopedia of Film Composers''. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.

External links

* * 1948 films American mystery films American black-and-white films 1948 mystery films Films directed by Charles Reisner Eagle-Lion Films films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films {{mystery-film-stub