Vicki (1953)

Vicki (1953)

„Vicki“ is a 1953 Black & White film-noir crime film directed by Harry Horner. The screenplay by Dwight Taylor and Leo Townsend is based on the 1941 novel „I Wake Up Screaming“ by Steve Fisher.

After the slaying of New York glamour girl Vicki Lynn, zealous homicide detective Lt. Ed Cornell insists on canceling his vacation and heading the investigation.

At police headquarters, Cornell grills Steve Christopher, the promoter responsible for Vicki’s career, and Jill Lynn, Vicki’s sister.

Christopher relates how he met Vicki several months before, with influential columnist Larry Evans, returning from the opening night of a new play starring their friend, Robin Ray. Christopher and Evans meet Vicki at the cafeteria where she works, and assure Vicki that Christopher, a successful publicity man, could help her become New York’s top model.

Back at the police station, Jill tells Police Capt. J. „Chief“ Donald, the head of homicide, that during the next few months, Vicki’s fame grew. The chief asks if any men had bothered Vicki, and Jill remembers that one mysterious man would hang around the cafeteria, staring intently at Vicki. Jill is horrified when Cornell enters the room and she recognizes him as the man she described. Cornell insists that Christopher is the killer, but he and Jill are released because Harry Williams, the switchboard operator at Jill and Vicki’s building, is missing and is presumed to be the killer.

The next day, Jill moves into a new apartment, she discovers a note from Christopher to Vicki. Jill gives Christopher the note, but Cornell grabs it and handcuffs Christopher. Jill knocks Cornell unconscious, admits that she loves Christopher, and the couple embraces. Christopher then asks Jill to meet him at a repair shop to remove the handcuffs, but when she arrives, she is arrested. Hoping that Jill will lead him to Christopher, Cornell has her released.

Evans admits that just before Vicki was killed, he escorted her to her apartment, and Harry was not at the desk. Evans climbed up the fire escape and upon entering Vicki’s apartment, smelled cigarette smoke but dismissed it. Realizing that Harry must have murdered Vicki, Christopher enlists police sergeant McDonald and Jill to help trap him, and soon after, the addled Harry, who secretly loved Vicki, confesses.

Harry also reveals that Cornell was aware of his guilt but let him go. Enraged that Cornell tried to frame him, Christopher goes to the detective’s apartment, and is astonished to find a shrine of candles and flowers in front of photographs of Vicki. Cornell admits he was in love with Vicki and blames Christopher for taking her away from him. Christopher tells Cornell that Vicki had no interest in him, and Cornell, in despair, begs Christopher to shoot him. Christopher cannot do it, however, and Mac arrests the crestfallen detective. In the daylight, Christopher and Jill kiss and hold hands as they walk along the street, impervious to the fact that Vicki’s posters are being covered with those of a new glamour girl.

Soundtrack music:
„Vicki“ – Written by Ken Darby and Max Showalter
„I Know Why (and So Do You)“ – Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics Mack Gordon, Performed by Jean Peters
„How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You?“ – Music by Jimmy McHugh, Lyrics Harold Adamson, Performed by Jean Peters
„Give Me the Simple Life“ – Music by Rube Bloom

Cast:

• Jeanne Crain – Jill Lynn
• Jean Peters – Vicki Lynn
• Elliott Reid – Steve Christopher
• Richard Boone – Lt. Ed Cornell
• Max Showalter – Larry Evans
• Alexander D’Arcy – Robin Ray
• Carl Betz – Detective McDonald
• Aaron Spelling – Harry Williams

„Vicki“ ist ein Film-noir-Kriminalfilm aus dem Jahr 1953 unter der Regie von Harry Horner. Das Drehbuch von Dwight Taylor und Leo Townsend basiert auf dem 1941 erschienenen Roman „I Wake Up Screaming“ von Steve Fisher.

Nach dem Mord an dem New Yorker Glamourgirl Vicki Lynn besteht der eifrige Detective Ed Cornell darauf, seinen Urlaub abzubrechen und die Ermittlungen zu leiten.

Im Polizeipräsidium verhört Cornell Steve Christopher, den für Vickis Karriere verantwortlichen Promoter, und Jill Lynn, Vickis Schwester.

Christopher erzählt, wie er Vicki einige Monate zuvor zusammen mit dem einflussreichen Kolumnisten Larry Evans kennengelernt hat, als sie von der Premiere eines neuen Stücks mit ihrem Freund Robin Ray zurückkehrten. Christopher und Evans treffen Vicki in der Cafeteria, in der sie arbeitet, und versichern ihr, dass Christopher, ein erfolgreicher Werbefachmann, ihr helfen könnte, das Topmodel von New York zu werden.

Zurück auf dem Polizeirevier erzählt Jill dem Leiter des Morddezernats, Polizeichef J. „Chief“ Donald, dass Vickis Ruhm in den nächsten Monaten immer größer wurde. Der Chef fragt, ob irgendwelche Männer Vicki belästigt hätten, und Jill erinnert sich, dass ein mysteriöser Mann in der Cafeteria herumhing und Vicki aufmerksam anstarrte. Jill ist entsetzt, als Cornell den Raum betritt und sie ihn als den von ihr beschriebenen Mann wiedererkennt. Cornell beharrt darauf, dass Christopher der Mörder ist, aber er und Jill werden freigelassen, weil Harry Williams, der Telefonist in Jill und Vickis Haus, vermisst wird und als der Mörder vermutet wird.