''The Mugger'' is a 1958

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

about a police psychiatrist who is attempting to catch a mysterious mugger that has been attacking women in his city, stealing their purses and slashing their left cheek. The film is a

police procedural The police show, or police crime drama, is a subgenre of procedural drama and detective fiction that emphasizes the investigative procedure of a police officer or department as the protagonist(s), as contrasted with other genres that focus on eith ...

in structure, focusing on psychiatrist Dr. Pete Graham's investigation into the title character's identity. The film's

screenplay ''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993. Background After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, fe ...

, written by Henry Kane, is based on the novel of the same name by

Evan Hunter Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Albert Lombino,(October 15, 1926 – July 6, 2005) was an American author and screenwriter best known for his 87th Precinct novels, written under his Ed McBain pen name, and the novel upon which the film ''Blackbo ...

(writing under the pen name

Ed McBain Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Albert Lombino,(October 15, 1926 – July 6, 2005) was an American author and screenwriter best known for his 87th Precinct novels, written under his Ed McBain pen name, and the novel upon which the film ''Blackbo ...

). William Berke directed the film, the second of two adaptions of Hunter's 87th Precinct novels he released in 1958 (following ''

Cop Hater ''Cop Hater'' (1956) is the first 87th Precinct police procedural novel by Ed McBain. The murder of three detectives in quick succession in the 87th Precinct leads Detective Steve Carella on a search that takes him into the city's underworld and u ...

''). It was Berke's final completed film as a director; he died the same year. William Berke IMDB bio
access 21 March 2014 Filmed in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York. Several of the car scenes were filmed on the Belt Parkway. The Veterans Hospital located on the Fort Hamilton Army Base with no Verazzano Bridge can be seen during the first car scene. The restaurant scene was filmed on 67th Street and 4th Avenue right next to the subway exit. Other Bay Ridge locations can be seen throughout the film as well.

Plot

Cast

Kent Smith Frank Kent Smith (March 19, 1907 – April 23, 1985) was an American actor who had a lengthy career in film, theatre and television. Early years Smith was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Smith. He was born in New York City and was educated ...

as Dr. Pete Graham * Nan Martin as Claire Townsend * James Franciscus as Eddie Baxter *

Stefan Schnabel Stefan Artur Schnabel (February 2, 1912 – March 11, 1999) was a German-born American actor who worked in theatre, radio, films and television. After moving to the United States in 1937 he became one of the original members of Orson Welles's M ...

as Fats Donner *

Dick O'Neill Richard Francis O'Neill (August 29, 1928 – November 17, 1998) was an American stage, film and television character actor best known for playing Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. He began his acting career as an original company me ...

as Cassidy * Leonard Stone as Jim Kelly *

Sandra Church Sandra Church (born January 13, 1937) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her performance as the original Gypsy Rose Lee in ''Gypsy'' (1959),Kantor, Michael and Laurence Maslon, ''Broadway: The American Musical'', Bulfinch P ...

as Jeannie Page * John Alexander as Chief of Police *

Arthur Storch Arthur Storch (June 29, 1925 — March 25, 2013) was an American actor and Broadway director. A life member of The Actors Studio, Storch founded Syracuse Stage in 1974. Productions Storch directed included: *''Tribute'', on Broadway *''The Comed ...

as Jack "Skippy" Randolph

References

External links

* 1958 films Film noir 1958 crime drama films American black-and-white films American crime drama films 1950s English-language films Films directed by William A. Berke Films scored by Albert Glasser Films shot in New York City 1950s police procedural films United Artists films Films based on novels by Ed McBain 1950s American films {{1950s-crime-film-stub