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{{Short description|1949 film noir by Fletcher Markle}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Jigsaw | name = Jigsaw
Line 12: Line 14:
| cinematography = Don Malkames | cinematography = Don Malkames
| editing = Robert Matthews | editing = Robert Matthews
| studio = Tower Pictures Inc. | studio = Tower Pictures
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = {{Film date|1949|3|11|United States}} | released = {{film date|1949|3|11|United States|1949|5|28|New York City}}
| runtime = 70 minutes | runtime = 72 minutes
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $400,000<ref></ref>
| budget =
| gross = | gross =
}} }}
'''''Jigsaw''''' is a 1949 ] directed by ], and starring ], ] and ]. The feature was produced by Edward J. Danziger and Harry Lee Danziger from a screenplay by Vincent McConnor and Fletcher Markle from a story by John Roeburt.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0041523|title=Jigsaw}}.</ref> '''''Jigsaw''''' is a 1949 American ] ] ] directed by ] starring ], ] and ]. The feature was produced by the ], Edward J. Danziger and Harry Lee Danziger from a screenplay by Vincent McConnor and Fletcher Markle, which was based on a story by John Roeburt.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0041523|title=Jigsaw}}.</ref>


Of note is that the film has ] by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], newspaper columnist ], and the director Fletcher Markle. The film features ] by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], newspaper columnist ] and the film's director, ].


==Plot== ==Plot==
The title refers to a jigsaw puzzle and the story begins with the murder of a print shop owner that is quickly labeled a suicide. But newspaper columnist Charlie Riggs is convinced that it was a murder related to a white ] organization called the Crusaders and imparts this suspicion to Assistant District Attorney Howard Malloy. He also publishes this opinion in his column. Then Riggs himself is murdered, inducing Malloy to launch an investigation into the Crusaders. Because the group appears to be getting backing from organized crime, Malloy looks there, soon receiving unasked-for help from a crime boss called ''Angel,'' who recommends him for the position of special prosecutor. The murder of a print shop owner is quickly labeled a suicide. However, newspaper columnist Charlie Riggs is convinced that it was a murder related to a white ] organization called the Crusaders and relays this suspicion to assistant district attorney Howard Malloy. Riggs also publishes his opinion in his column.


Riggs is murdered, inducing Malloy to launch an investigation into the Crusaders. The group appears to be backed by ], and Malloy receives unsolicited help from a crime boss named Angel, who recommends him for the position of special prosecutor.
⚫ Later, with further help from a prominent judge's widow, Malloy is appointed. This is supposed to put him in the pocket of those behind the murders. But Malloy proceeds to investigate the artist who created the Crusaders recruiting poster. Seeing in the artist's studio a painting of an attractive night club singer, Malloy then proceeds to investigate her. This leads to a series of revelations regarding all of these characters and ends with more people dead and wounded in a fiery exchange at the end.

⚫ Later, with further help from a prominent judge's widow, Malloy is appointed, and the criminals think that he is in their pocket. However, Malloy proceeds to investigate the artist who created the Crusaders' recruiting poster and sees a painting of an attractive night club singer, so Malloy investigates her. After a series of revelations, a fiery exchange takes place.


==Cast== ==Cast==
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* ] as Tommy Quigley * ] as Tommy Quigley
{{col-2}} {{col-2}}
* Hester Sondergaard as Mrs. Borg * ] as Mrs. Borg
* Luella Gear as Pet Shop Owner * ] as Pet Shop Owner
* ] as Nightclub Waiter
* Alexander Campbell as Pemberton * Alexander Campbell as Pemberton
* Robert Noe as Waldron * Robert Noe as Waldron
* Alexander Lockwood as Nichols * ] as Nichols
* Ken Smith as Wylie * Ken Smith as Wylie
* Alan MacAteer as Museum Guard * Alan MacAteer as Museum Guard
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==Reception== ==Reception==
⚫ In a contemporary review for '']'', critic ] wrote: "It is sluggishly directed by Fletcher Markle, who also co-authored the script, and almost indifferently played, where good playing would do the most for it, by Franchot Tone in the principal role ... An irresistible temptation to get a few recognizable stars to play bit roles in the picture was accepted unfortunately. John Garfield is seen as a loafer, Henry Fonda as a waiter in a club, Burgess Meredith as a bartender, Marcia Hunt as a secretary and such. This tomfooling doesn't help the picture. It gives the whole thing a faintly prankish look."<ref>. '']'', film review, May 30, 1949. Accessed: July 12, 2013.</ref>


Critic Philip K. Scheuer of the '']'' wrote: "'Jigsaw,' produced by Franchot Tone and associates in New York in attempted ] style, strikes me as a dilettante effort at movie making. The boys seem to have gotten hold of a camera and decided to play around with it. This is too bad, because they also chose a serious subject—the spreading of racial intolerance—and then muddled it up almost hopelessly."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scheuer |first=Philip K. |date=1949-03-30 |title='Jigsaw' Gives Serious Subject Odd Treatment |work=] |page=15}}</ref>
===Critical response===
⚫ When the film was released, '']'' film critic, ], panned the film, writing, "On the sole account of ''Jigsaw'', which opened at the Mayfair on Saturday, Hollywood has no reason to look immediately and anxiously to its laurels ... It is sluggishly directed by Fletcher Markle, who also co-authored the script, and almost indifferently played, where good playing would do the most for it, by Franchot Tone in the principal role ... An irresistible temptation to get a few recognizable stars to play bit roles in the picture was accepted unfortunately. John Garfield is seen as a loafer, Henry Fonda as a waiter in a club, Burgess Meredith as a bartender, Marcia Hunt as a secretary and such. This tomfooling doesn't help the picture. It gives the whole thing a faintly prankish look."<ref>. '']'', film review, May 30, 1949. Accessed: July 12, 2013.</ref>


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0041523|title=Jigsaw}} * {{IMDb title|id=0041523|title=Jigsaw}}
* {{Allmovie title|id=26163|title=Jigsaw}} * {{TCMDb title|id=79765|title=Jigsaw}}
* {{Tcmdb title|id=79765|title=Jigsaw}}
* {{Internet Archive film|id=Jigsaw_|name=Jigsaw}} * {{Internet Archive film|id=Jigsaw_|name=Jigsaw}}
* informational site and DVD review at DVD Beaver (includes images) * informational site and DVD review at DVD Beaver (includes images)
* {{YouTube|3EgyBMrMySg|''Jigsaw'' complete film}} * {{YouTube|3EgyBMrMySg|''Jigsaw'' complete film}}
{{The Danzigers}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
⚫ ]
]
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]

Latest revision as of 04:01, 19 January 2025

1949 film noir by Fletcher Markle

Jigsaw
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFletcher Markle
Screenplay byFletcher Markle
Vincent McConnor
Story byJohn Roeburt
Produced byEdward J. Danziger
Harry Lee Danziger
StarringFranchot Tone
Jean Wallace
Marc Lawrence
CinematographyDon Malkames
Edited byRobert Matthews
Music byRobert W. Stringer
Production
company		Tower Pictures
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release dates
  • March 11, 1949 (1949-03-11) (United States)
  • May 28, 1949 (1949-05-28) (New York City)
Running time72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$400,000

Jigsaw is a 1949 American film noir crime drama directed by Fletcher Markle starring Franchot Tone, Jean Wallace and Marc Lawrence. The feature was produced by the Danziger Brothers, Edward J. Danziger and Harry Lee Danziger from a screenplay by Vincent McConnor and Fletcher Markle, which was based on a story by John Roeburt.

The film features cameo appearances by Marlene Dietrich, Henry Fonda, John Garfield, Burgess Meredith, Marsha Hunt, Doe Avedon, Everett Sloane, newspaper columnist Leonard Lyons and the film's director, Fletcher Markle.

Plot

The murder of a print shop owner is quickly labeled a suicide. However, newspaper columnist Charlie Riggs is convinced that it was a murder related to a white neofascist organization called the Crusaders and relays this suspicion to assistant district attorney Howard Malloy. Riggs also publishes his opinion in his column.

Riggs is murdered, inducing Malloy to launch an investigation into the Crusaders. The group appears to be backed by organized crime, and Malloy receives unsolicited help from a crime boss named Angel, who recommends him for the position of special prosecutor.

Later, with further help from a prominent judge's widow, Malloy is appointed, and the criminals think that he is in their pocket. However, Malloy proceeds to investigate the artist who created the Crusaders' recruiting poster and sees a painting of an attractive night club singer, so Malloy investigates her. After a series of revelations, a fiery exchange takes place.

Cast

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "It is sluggishly directed by Fletcher Markle, who also co-authored the script, and almost indifferently played, where good playing would do the most for it, by Franchot Tone in the principal role ... An irresistible temptation to get a few recognizable stars to play bit roles in the picture was accepted unfortunately. John Garfield is seen as a loafer, Henry Fonda as a waiter in a club, Burgess Meredith as a bartender, Marcia Hunt as a secretary and such. This tomfooling doesn't help the picture. It gives the whole thing a faintly prankish look."

Critic Philip K. Scheuer of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "'Jigsaw,' produced by Franchot Tone and associates in New York in attempted semidocumentary style, strikes me as a dilettante effort at movie making. The boys seem to have gotten hold of a camera and decided to play around with it. This is too bad, because they also chose a serious subject—the spreading of racial intolerance—and then muddled it up almost hopelessly."

References

  1. Variety February 1949
  2. Jigsaw at IMDb.
  3. Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, May 30, 1949. Accessed: July 12, 2013.
  4. Scheuer, Philip K. (1949-03-30). "'Jigsaw' Gives Serious Subject Odd Treatment". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.

External links

Films produced by The Danzigers
Categories:
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