''Mysterious Crossing'' is a 1936 American

mystery film A mystery film is a 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 of clues, ...

directed by

Arthur Lubin Arthur Lubin (July 25, 1898 – May 11, 1995) was an American film director and producer who directed several ''Abbott & Costello'' films, ''Phantom of the Opera (1943 film), Phantom of the Opera'' (1943), the ''Francis the Talking Mule'' series a ...

and starring James Dunn,

Jean Rogers Jean Rogers (born Eleanor Dorothy Lovegren; March 25, 1916 – February 24, 1991) was an American actress who starred in serial films in the 1930s and low–budget feature films in the 1940s as a leading lady. She is best remembered for ...

and

Andy Devine Andrew Vabre Devine (October 7, 1905 – February 18, 1977) was an American character actor known for his distinctive raspy, crackly voice and roles in American frontier, Western films, including his role as Cookie, the sidekick of Roy Rogers ...

. It was produced and distributed by

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

Plot

A travelling newspaper reporter stumbles across the body of a dead man while on a boat crossing the Mississippi River at New Orleans. He takes a lead in the investigation of the murder, falling in love with the dead man's daughter.

Cast

* James Dunn as Addison Francis Murphy *

as Yvonne Fontaine *

as Carolina *

Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh (September 22, 1886 – April 26, 1950 ) was an American character actor in films and on stage. Biography Cavanaugh was born in Virginia City, Nevada, on September 22, 1886. He attended the University of California, then worked ...

as Ned J. Stebbins * John Eldredge as Paul Briand *

Herbert Rawlinson Herbert Banemann Rawlinson (15 November 1885 – 12 July 1953) was an English-born stage, film, radio, and television actor. A leading man during Hollywood's silent film era, Rawlinson transitioned to character roles after the advent of sound f ...

as District Attorney Henry R. Charters * Lorin Raker as Wilson - Copy Writer * J. Farrell MacDonald as Police Chief Bullock *

Clarence Muse Clarence Muse (October 14, 1889 – October 13, 1979) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, singer, and composer. He was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a major studio film, 1929's '' Hearts in Dixie''. ...

as Lincoln * Libby Taylor as Hattie * Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson as Hotel Porter * Edward Earle as Hotel Manager * Alphonse Martell as Head Waiter *

Etta McDaniel Etta McDaniel (December 1, 1890January 13, 1946) was an American actress who appeared in over 60 films between 1933 and 1946. Early life McDaniel was born in Wichita, Kansas. She was the sister of actor Sam McDaniel and Academy Award winni ...

as Cook * Pat O'Malley as Sergeant *

Rhea Mitchell Rhea Ginger Mitchell (December 10, 1890 – September 16, 1957) was an American film actress and screenwriter who appeared in over 100 films, mainly during the silent era. A native of Portland, Oregon, Mitchell began her acting career in local ...

as Hotel Floor Clerk * James Flavin as Plainclothesman

Production

It was originally called ''Murder on the Mississippi'', which was the title of the Fred MacIsaac story on which it was based. Universal bought this in June 1936 as a vehicle for

Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff () and occasionally billed as Karloff the Uncanny, was a British actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstei ...

. Filming started October 1936.

Reception

The ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' said the film "may not be great art" but "it has a smoothness about it."

References

External links

*
Mysterious Crossing
at Letterbox DVD
Mysterious Crossing
at BFI
Mysterious Crossing
at Variety 1936 films 1936 mystery films Films directed by Arthur Lubin American mystery films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films Universal Pictures films Films set in New Orleans English-language mystery films {{mystery-film-stub