“A good black and white mystery/murder story with some good acting and an interesting mystery that an insurance investigator named Sam Donovan (Dennis O’Keefe) must match wits with the small town sheriff named Larry Best (Willia Bendix) who claims the investigator Sam Donoovan is incorrect in his thinking and should just accept that the death of a prominent man in town was a suicide, and not a murder.
Sam Donovan is suspicious of Sheriff Best’s claim of a suicide so he decides to stick around and stick he does, his nose that is. As the town is just in the process of getting ready to light up the towns Christmas tree at their annual street festival the town is advised of another sudden death of the towns beloved doctor from an apparent heart attack. The mystery thickens, and so does the insurance investigator Sam Donovan’s affection for a lovely local lass named Anita Weatherby (Barbara Britton).
As the film progresses more clues are discovered that challenge Sam Donovan to question whether the whole town is hiding something about the murder victim who has a $20,000.00 life insurance policy that will pay out double indemnity to the victims niece if in fact it was not a suicide but rather a murder.
The film has some light humour, a new romance blossoming, a Christmas theme, and a battle of wits between the insurance investigator Sam Donovan (Dennis O’Keefe) and Sheriff Best (William Bendix). I liked the film throughout, and I have always been fond of the 1940’s period, especial murder/mystery themes. I give the film a 7/10 rating.”
