Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!

GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

mark.waltz Keith Larsen is Ralph Wyatt, an emotionally exhausted soldier recovering from the war and from the news that his trampy wife (Helene Stanley) has just obtained a divorce. He manages to escape from the military mental hospital where he is recovering to confront her. No sooner has he arrived in the neighborhood where she lives then he's arrested for her murder, and protesting his innocence, he desperately tries to get out of his holding cell in the local jail. This familiar tale of adultery leading to murder has been told in many different ways, but this (the first of a short-lived series starring Bill Elliott as a tough Hollywood cop) is told with a very fascinating narrative.While the "B" western star Elliott is top billed, it is Larsen's intense performance that draws center attention here. He adds touches of sanity and insanity to his characterization so you can understand why he is institutionalized, yet you know he knows reality from his frenzied brain. Stanley is fascinating as his trashy wife, amoral to the maximum, and determined to hold onto her married lover (a very good Paul Picerni) who just happens to be an old army buddy of Larsen's. Jack Kruschen is also excellent as the lascivious next door neighbor who makes his lust towards Stanley very clear even though they have no scenes together.There are a lot of little details to keep an eye out for in this low-budget feature which is perhaps a bit too racy for 1955 television audiences, explaining its theatrical release. It is also obvious that Stanley is the one who seems to deserve to be in the mental institution more than her husband, and the scenes leading up to her demise are reminiscent of the 1980's sexual thriller explosion with films such as "Fatal Attraction" and the later "Basic Instinct". The cops here are presented as real human beings who take their jobs seriously, and are not the typical tough-talking movie law enforcement officers with muscles of steel yet brains of plastic.

bkoganbing I took a look at Wild Bill Elliott's credits and the last time he was in modern dress for a movie before Dial Red O was in a small role as a bootlegger in The Roaring Twenties. My guess his popularity as a western star was on the decline as the films he made were now being done in television series. I'm surprised Elliott never went into the small screen to continue as a western star. Also he dropped the 'Wild' in his screen billing, that seemed to not fit now that he was playing a police lieutenant in modern dress.In Dial Red O we are introduced to Elliott's new character of Lieutenant Andy Flynn of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The case he catches in this film is the murder of Helene Stanley who is the good time wife of Marine veteran Keith Larsen. Larsen is doing a stay in the Psychiatric Ward of the Veteran's Hospital as things haven't been going so well with him.That's not stopping Stanley from spending his money and having a good time with Larsen's old friend from the Corps Paul Picerni. A little too much pressure going both ways and Stanley winds up dead.We know Picerni did it, the suspense is whether Elliott and Larsen can put it together. An offhand remark by law enforcement tells Larsen who the murderer is. Dial Red O is one no frills production. Allied Artists obviously had a contract commitment to Elliott and they wanted to see how the public would take to him out of his boots and in a squad car not on a horse. It's all right, but again nothing you couldn't see on television.

GManfred I was a little disappointed in "Dial Red O" but maybe I was expecting too much. It has a pretty lofty rating and was reviewed by 2 other contributors who usually know their stuff. I guess I just didn't like it as much as they did.On the title page it's labeled a mystery but there's not much mystery here. It's a pretty straightforward story about an escaped mental patient/ ex-GI who gets framed for his wife's murder. As we see, one of his old service buddies kills her and tries to pin it on him. So much for mystery.The acting is solid, with one of my old western heroes, Bill Elliott, playing Lt. Doyle who is in charge of the case. Keith Larsen is the framed war hero and Paul Picerni is his 'buddy'. The story is pretty routine and chugs along to the finish. I was beginning to think Elliott had lost his hair, as he wears his fedora constantly indoors and out, except for one scene in which he is rousted out of bed via a phone call.No surprises here, just your Police Department in action. I would like to see the others in this series, but I'm not hopeful as I had so much trouble getting a hold of this one.

Alex da Silva Ralph Wyatt (Keith Larsen) escapes from a psychiatric institution in order to confront his wife Connie (Helene Stanley) over their divorce. He intends to return once he has seen her. However, Connie has been having an affair with his friend Norman (Paul Picerni) behind Ralph's back. When Norman refuses to marry her now that she is free and single once again, a fight ensues and she is killed. Norman stitches up Ralph, who is arrested for murder. However, Ralph escapes from custody in order to avenge his wife's death. At the same time, Det. Flynn (Bill Elliott) is discovering the truth....I was surprised at how good this film was. It's made with a sparse cast who are all believable and likable in their roles and the action unfolds at a good pace. I thought the film was going to be crap and was anticipating hitting the "stop" button, but my girlfriend and I found ourselves watching to the end and even cheering out loud at certain moments! It's a solid story and it has a good soundtrack.