''Grand Central Murder'' is a comedy/

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 sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, i ...

released in 1942. It was based on Sue MacVeigh's 1939 novel of the same name, and stars Van Heflin as a private investigator who is one of the suspects in a murder on a private train car in Grand Central Terminal. The film was directed by S. Sylvan Simon.

Plot

Convicted murderer "Turk" (

Stephen McNally Stephen McNally (born Horace Vincent McNally; July 29, 1911 – June 4, 1994) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in many Westerns and action films. He often played hard-hearted characters, criminals, bullies, and othe ...

) escapes from police custody, crashing through a washroom window as a train pulls into Grand Central Terminal in New York. He telephones his former girlfriend, Broadway star Mida King ( Patricia Dane), and threatens to kill her. She leaves her show between acts and hides in a private train car on a siding at the terminal, planning to leave town and marry her rich, high society fiance, David V. Henderson (Mark Daniels). However, her body is found by David and his ex-fiancee, Connie Furness ( Cecilia Parker). Police Inspector Gunther (

Sam Levene Sam Levene (born Scholem Lewin; August 28, 1905 – December 28, 1980) was a Russian Empire-born American Broadway, film, radio, and television actor and director. In a career spanning over five decades, he appeared in over 50 comedy and dr ...

) is called in to solve the crime. The doctor at the scene is unable to determine the cause of death. Turk is recaptured, and wisecracking private detective "Rocky" Custer ( Van Heflin), whom Turk had hired, is also brought in, as he had helped his client evade the police. Other suspects are rounded up: Mida's greedy phony psychic stepfather Ramon (

Roman Bohnen Roman Aloys Bohnen (November 24, 1901 – February 24, 1949) was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the films ''Of Mice and Men'' (1939), '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943), and ''The Best Years of Our Lives'' (194 ...

); her ex-husband Paul Rinehart (George Lynn), who works at the terminal; and her producer Frankie Ciro (

Tom Conway Tom Conway (born Thomas Charles Sanders, 15 September 1904 – 22 April 1967) was a British film, television, and radio actor remembered for playing private detectives (including The Falcon, Sherlock Holmes, Bulldog Drummond, and The Saint) ...

). Also mixed in are Mida's maid, ex-burlesque singer Pearl Delroy ( Connie Gilchrist) and her daughter "Baby" (Betty Wells), Mida's understudy. Then Roger Furness ( Samuel S. Hinds), Connie's magnate father and chairman of the board of the railroad, shows up to guard his daughter's interests. Gunther gets each to tell what they know, with the unwelcome assistance of Rocky. It turns out that the victim was a calculating gold digger. Like the inspiration of her stage name, King

Midas Midas (; grc-gre, Μίδας) was the name of a king in Phrygia with whom several myths became associated, as well as two later members of the Phrygian royal house. The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ...

, everything (or rather every man) she touched, turned to gold for her purse. She had used each successive boyfriend as a stepping stone, then discarded each in turn, in her climb up the social ladder. Landing millionaire David was to have been her crowning achievement, the fulfillment of her lifelong ambition. Frankie finds her, but she calms his anger at the prospect of losing the star of his expensive production by telling him that she plans to get a rich divorce settlement in about six months, more than enough to finance an even more lavish show. This conversation is overheard by David, giving him a motive. During the investigation, Ramon dies, apparently of a weak heart. Rocky is able to solve the case and show that Ramon too had been murdered. The killer electrocuted Mida while she was in the shower of the locked railway car by connecting the plumbing to the electrified

third rail A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway ...

. When he went to return the wiring to the storage locker, he was spotted by Ramon. The murderer paid Ramon off, but later got rid of the loose end with poison. Rocky identifies the man as Roger Furness, who breaks away and jumps aboard a departing train, but falls to his own death on the third rail.

Cast

as ''Inspector Gunther'' *Mark Daniels as ''David V. Henderson'' *

as ''"Turk"'' *Betty Wells as ''"Baby" Delroy'' *George Lynn as ''Paul Rinehart'' *Roman Bohnen as ''Ramon'' *

Millard Mitchell Millard Mitchell (August 14, 1903 – October 13, 1953) was an American character actor whose credits include roughly 30 feature films and two television appearances. He appeared as a bit player in eight films between 1931 and 1936. Mitchell ...

as ''Detective Arthur Doolin'' Cast notes *Stephen McNally made his film debut in ''Grand Central Murder'' under the name "Horace McNally". *Sam Levene, who was the original "Nathan Detroit" in '' Guys and Dolls'' on Broadway, often portrayed police investigators who played second-fiddle to private investigators. He performed that function several times in the Thin Man series.

Production

''Grand Central Murder'' is a sequel of sorts to ''

Kid Glove Killer ''Kid Glove Killer'' is a 1942 American crime film, starring Van Heflin as a forensic scientist investigating the murder of a mayor. The B film, the feature-length directorial debut of Fred Zinnemann, was an expanded version of the 1938 '' Crime ...

'', in which Van Heflin played a similar part. Donna Reed and

Reginald Owen John Reginald Owen (5 August 1887 – 5 November 1972) was a British actor. He was known for his many roles in British and American films and television programs. Career The son of Joseph and Frances Owen, Reginald Owen studied at Sir Herbert ...

were originally cast in the film, but were replaced.TC
Notes
/ref> The film was in production at MGM's studios in Culver City, California from 19 February to 13 March 1942.TC
Overview
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Business data
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Reception

The film premiered in New York City on 23 May of that year. According to MGM records it earned $297,000 in the US and Canada and $220,000 elsewhere, making the studio a profit of $86,000.

Notes

External links

* * * {{S. Sylvan Simon 1942 films 1940s crime comedy films 1940s comedy mystery films American crime comedy films American black-and-white films American comedy mystery films Films based on American novels Films directed by S. Sylvan Simon Film noir Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Rail transport films Films produced by B. F. Zeidman 1942 comedy films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films