No Man’s Woman (1955)
No Man’s Woman (1955)
„No Man’s Woman“ is a 1955 film noir crime film directed by Franklin Adreon. The screenplay by John K. Butler is based on a story by Don Martin.
In Beverly Hills, California, gold digger Carolyn Ellenson Grant, has been estranged from husband Harlow Grant for two years. When Harlow falls in love with Louise Nelson, Carolyn refuses to grant him a divorce, unless he gives her a large percentage of his chemical company plus $300,000. Knowing that Harlow does not have that much, she suggests that he sell his father’s, Philip Grant, share of the company, which Philip spent his life building.
Carolyn runs an art gallery with her lover and silent partner, Wayne Vincent, an unethical art critic who brings in business by writing about her paintings in his column. Carolyn’s assistant, wholesome Betty Allen, is engaged to fisherman Dick Sawyer, who has recently bought a boat.
Carolyn tries to force Dick into dating her, but he refuses. Betty, after discovering that Carolyn and Dick are together, sees them arguing in the boatyard and thinks they are embracing. She leaves his engagement ring in an envelope with Virginia Gillis, who runs the boatyard office. Betty reports to the gallery caretaker, Otto Peterson, that she is quitting her job.
Vincent tells Carolyn he has been fired for using his column to foster private enterprise. Predicting that sales will drop without his „advertising,“ Carolyn informs him that he is now useless to her. At 3:00 a.m., in her upstairs bedroom, Carolyn hears someone entering the gallery below, and is shot dead.
The next day, Detective Lt. Colton, in charge of the murder investigation, determines that robbery was not a motive and brings in Harlow and Betty for questioning. Vincent is added to the list of suspects.
Ballistic tests determine that the murder weapon was a German Mauser and Harlow acknowledges that he has an historical gun collection, and becomes the lead suspect. Harlow is taken to the station, but released when Philip confesses to the murder. Guessing that Philip is innocent, Colton’s superior, Capt. Hostedder, assigns officers to tail Harlow, who, with Louise, goes to the studio. There Otto tells Harlow that only he, Betty and Carolyn had a key, Harlow suspects Betty of killing Carolyn.
Virginia tells Harlow that Dick and Betty broke up. After proceeding to Betty’s apartment, Harlow accuses her of lying to the police and of murdering Carolyn. Dick, who has reconciled with Betty, shows up and together they explain that Betty lied to protect Dick.
Although Betty is certain that Vincent knew where Carolyn kept the gun, no one can think of a reason for him to kill her, as they do not know about Carolyn breaking up with him. Later, believing he is alone, Vincent hides the Mauser in a box of paintings at the studio to frame Harlow for the murder. From the bedroom where she is packing, Louise sees him and calls the police, but Vincent breaks the phone connection and tries to kill her. Harlow then arrives and tries to subdue Vincent, but Vincent threatens to shoot Louise, mentioning that she is standing in the same place Carolyn stood when he shot her. Having trailed Harlow to the gallery, the police arrest Vincent. With Carolyn gone and the case solved, Louise and Harlow can now marry.
Cast:
- Marie Windsor – Carolyn Ellenson Grant
- John Archer – Harlow Grant
- Patric Knowles – Wayne Vincent
- Nancy Gates – Louise Nelson
- Jil Jarmyn – Betty Allen
- Richard Crane – Dick Sawyer
- Fern Hall – Virginia Gillis
- Louis Jean Heydt – Det. Lt. Colton
- John Gallaudet – Det. Sgt. Wells
- Douglas Wood – Philip Grant
- Percy Helton – Otto Peterson
- Morris Ankrum – Capt. Hostedder
- Paul Bryar – Sandy
- Morris Buchanan – Attendant
- Charles Perry – Attendant
- Joe Phillips – Attendant
- Joe Gilbert – Bar Patron
- Hans Moebus – Bar Patron
- Paula Kyle – Blonde on beach
- Ted Cooper – Photographer
- Franklyn Farnum – Police Criminologist
- Will J. White – Policeman
„No Man’s Woman“ ist ein Film Noir-Kriminalfilm von 1955 unter der Regie von Franklin Adreon. Das Drehbuch von John K. Butler basiert auf einer Geschichte von Don Martin.
In Beverly Hills, Kalifornien, ist die Goldgräberin Carolyn Ellenson Grant seit zwei Jahren von ihrem Ehemann Harlow Grant entfremdet. Als Harlow sich in Louise Nelson verliebt, weigert sich Carolyn, in die Scheidung einzuwilligen, es sei denn, er überlässt ihr einen großen Teil seines Chemieunternehmens und 300.000 Dollar. Da sie weiß, dass Harlow nicht so viel hat, schlägt sie ihm vor, den Anteil seines Vaters, Philip Grant, an der Firma zu verkaufen, den Philip sein Leben lang aufgebaut hat.