''According to Mrs. Hoyle'' is a 1951 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 ...

directed by

Jean Yarbrough Jean Yarbrough (August 22, 1901 – August 2, 1975) was an American film director. Biography Jean Yarbrough was born in Marianna, Arkansas on August 22, 1901. He attended the University of the South located in Sewanee, Tennessee. In 1922 ...

and written by

Scott Darling Scott Darling (born December 22, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes. Darling was selected by the Phoenix C ...

and Barney Gerard. The film stars

Spring Byington Spring Dell Byington (October 17, 1886 – September 7, 1971) was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of ''December Bride''. She was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player who appeared in ...

, Anthony Caruso,

Tanis Chandler Tanis Chandler (born Tannis Anne Goldthwaite; August 29, 1924 – May 7, 2006) was a French-born American film actress. She was perhaps best known for masquerading as a male to gain a role in a film. Early years Chandler was born in Nantes, F ...

Brett King Brett King (born Bertell W. King, Jr.; December 29, 1920 – January 14, 1999) was an American actor who performed in films and on television between 1949 and 1967. Early life and film career King attended the American Theatre Wing in New Yor ...

, Stephen Chase and

Robert Karnes Robert Anthony Karnes (June 19, 1917 – December 4, 1979) was an American film, stage and television actor. Life and career Karnes was born in Kentucky. He served in World War II, where he had interest into acting and going to Hollywood, Cal ...

. The film was released on May 20, 1951, by

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

Plot

Retired schoolteacher Mrs. Hoyle (

), recognized for her reformation of young men, has resided at a second-rate hotel for twenty-five years, when gang leader Morganti ( Anthony Caruso) buys the hotel. Morganti, who has decided that he and his men will reform, evicts many residents; however, Mrs. Hoyle convinces him to allow her and dance hall girl Angela Brown (

) to remain. Eddie Slattery (

), one of Morganti's henchmen, falls in love with Angela and recognizes Mrs. Hoyle as his long-lost mother, but does not disclose his knowledge. Mrs. Hoyle does not recognize Eddie because she has not seen her son since her husband James, whom she thinks was a traveling salesman, mysteriously left her years earlier, taking their young son with him. At first, members of Morganti's gang are reluctant to adapt to their leader's change of heart; however, under Mrs. Hoyle's influence, all the men abandon their evil ways except for Harry Rogan (

). Defying Morganti's orders, Rogan plans a payroll robbery of a local grocery store the same night as the new hotel restaurant is holding its grand opening and tries to enlist Eddie to be his accomplice. Although Eddie at first refuses to participate because of his interest in Angela and Mrs. Hoyle, he finally relents when he is reminded that Rogan saved his life in a previous holdup. After the robbery, Eddie wants nothing to do with the stolen money and refuses to let Rogan tell him where he has hidden the money. Unknown to all, Rogan has hidden it inside a fur coat hanging in Mrs. Hoyle's closet. With the help of the grocery store's night watchman, who identifies Rogan, a known member of Morganti's gang, from a mug shot, police detective Pat Dennison (

Tris Coffin Tristram Chockley Coffin (August 13, 1909 – March 26, 1990) was a film and television actor from the latter 1930s through the 1970s, usually in westerns or other B-movie action-adventure productions. Early years Coffin's mother was actre ...

) goes to the hotel and accuses Morganti of being behind the robbery. When Eddie sees the watchman with Dennison, he tells Rogan and the two try to escape. As the police chase after them, Rogan is shot and killed and Eddie is knocked unconscious when he falls on the pavement. Mrs. Hoyle is arrested after the money and a trinket box containing several valuable jewels are found in her room. She denies knowledge of the money and claims the jewels were inexpensive presents from her husband. Morganti pays for Mrs. Hoyle's bail, and not even Dennison believes that she has had anything to do with a robbery, but the prosecuting attorney (

James Flavin James William Flavin Jr. (May 14, 1906 – April 23, 1976) was an American character actor whose career lasted for nearly half a century. Early life The son of a hotel waiter of Canadian-English descent,Flavin's obituary, distributed by United ...

) insists on trying her. The trial opens while Eddie is still in a coma. During Mrs. Hoyle's testimony, the prosecuting attorney confronts her with the fact that the "trinkets" in her possession are valuable jewels and reveals that her husband was a convicted jewel thief who died in prison eight years before. Mrs. Hoyle is shattered by the revelation and feels faint, prompting the sympathetic Judge Guthrie to call a recess and announce to the court that his friendship of many years with Mrs. Hoyle may require him to recuse himself from the case. During the recess, Eddie regains consciousness and learns of the charges against Mrs. Hoyle. Despite his still weakened condition, Eddie asks Dennison and Morganti to take him to court to testify. As he confesses to the crime, he inadvertently reveals to everyone that he is Mrs. Hoyle's son. The charges against Mrs. Hoyle are dismissed, but Eddie faces several years in prison. Now reunited with her son, Mrs. Hoyle assures him that after prison he can start a new life.

Cast

as Mrs. Harriet Hoyle * Anthony Caruso as Morganti *

as Angela Brown *

as Eddie Slattery *Stephen Chase as Judge Guthrie *

as Harry 'Chip' Rogan *

as Prosecuting Attorney *

Paul Bryar Paul Bryar (born Gabriel Paul Barrere; February 21, 1910 – August 30, 1985) was an American actor. In a career spanning nearly half a century, he appeared in numerous films and television series. Career Bryar appeared in nearly 220 fil ...

as Willie *

as Pat Dennison * Charles Williams as Charlie *

Harry Lauter Herman Arthur "Harry" Lauter (June 19, 1914 – October 30, 1990) was an American character actor. Early years Lauter was born in White Plains, New York. He worked as a model for a professional photographer and was a rodeo rider before m ...

as Gordon Warren * Michael Whalen as Rev. Haverford *

Leander de Cordova Leander de Cordova (5 December 1877 – 19 September 1969) was a Jamaican-born American actor and film director. He was the brother of Rudolph de Cordova. He was the son of Altamont de Cordova and Katherine Lewis. He was also the grandnep ...

as Pastor J. Berland *

Wilbur Mack Wilbur Mack (born George Frear Runyon, July 29, 1873 – March 13, 1964) was an American film actor and early vaudeville performer from the 1920s through the 1960s. His film acting career began during the silent film era. Biography Mack w ...

as Mr. Russ *

Don C. Harvey Don Carlos Harvey (December 12, 1911 – April 23, 1963) was an American television and film actor. Life Born in Council Grove in Morris County in east central Kansas, Harvey began his acting career by performing on radio and in tent shows and ...

as Detective *

Rory Mallinson Charles Rory Mallinson (October 27, 1913 – March 26, 1976) was an American film and television actor. Career Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mallinson began his acting career after signing a contract with Warner Brothers in 1945. That year he had ...

as Detective *Frank Jaquet as Watchman *Marcelle Imhof as Court Clerk *Baron James Lichter as Bailiff *Joey Ray as Policeman in Hospital *Ted Stanhope as Clerk of Court

References

External links

* {{Jean Yarbrough 1951 films 1950s English-language films American crime films 1951 crime films Monogram Pictures films Films directed by Jean Yarbrough American black-and-white films 1950s American films