Chicago Deadline (1949)

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(40 ratings)

Tough reporter Ed Adams (Alan Ladd) wants to get the full story behind the apparent suicide of a young woman. It seems that the girl left behind a notebook with a list of seemingly unrelated names. Adams tracks down each one of the persons cited in the notebook, slowly but surely putting the pieces… More Tough reporter Ed Adams (Alan Ladd) wants to get the full story behind the apparent suicide of a young woman. It seems that the girl left behind a notebook with a list of seemingly unrelated names. Adams tracks down each one of the persons cited in the notebook, slowly but surely putting the pieces together. Once the basic mystery is solved, however, there's one surprising loose end left to be tied up. June Havoc co-stars as Leona, self-styled best friend of the decedent, who helps Adams in his quest. As the victim, Donna Reed appears exclusively in flashbacks. Based on a story by veteran suspense scrivener Tiffany Thayer (of Thirteen Women fame), Chicago Deadline was remade for television in 1966 as Fame is the Name of the Game. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Lewis Allen
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 17, 1949 Wide
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
In a Laura type of minor film noir, director Lewis Allen fails to make his love sick hero who is mooning over a corpse into anything but a superhero figure.

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Cast

            Alan Ladd as Ed Adams

            Donna Reed as Rosita Jean D'Ur

            June Havoc as Leona Purdy

            Irene Hervey as Belle Dorset

            Arthur Kennedy as Tommy Ditman

            Berry Kroeger as Solly Wellman

            Harold Vermilyea as Anstruder

            Shepperd Strudwick as Blacky Franchot

            John Beal as Paul Jean D'Ur

            Tom Powers as Howard

            Gavin Muir as G.G. Temple

            Dave Willock as Pig

            Paul Lees as Bat

            Eric Alden
            
            Harry Antrim as Gribbe

            Marie Blake as Operator

            Paul Bryar
            
            Marietta Canty as Hazel

            Douglas Carter Beane as Waiter

            Helen Chapman as Girl

            Harry V. Cheshire as Minister

            Charles Cooley
            
            Laura Elliot as Marcia Grantland

            Julia Faye as Nurse

            Margaret Field as Minerva

            Howard Freeman as Hotspur Shaner

            Jack Gargan as Bartender

            Phyllis Kennedy as Maid

            Pat Lane as Assistant Undertaker

            Celia Lovsky as Mrs. Schleffler

            George Magrill as Handler

            Carole Mathews as Secretary

            Ralph Montgomery
            
            Ottola Nesmith as Sister John

            Jack Overman as Lou Horan

            Ralph Peters as Taxi Driver

            Leona Roberts as Maggie

            Roy Roberts as Jerry Cavanaugh

            Frances Sanford as Telephone Operator

            Arthur Space as Peterson

            Douglas Spencer as Reporter

            Clarence Straight as Nelson

            Archie Twitchell as Reporter

            Joe Whitehead as Actor

            Jack Roberts
            
            Dulce Daye as Woman

            Jerry James
            
            Dick Keene as Spingler

            Bill Meader
            
            Lyle Moraine
            
            Gordon Carveth as Marty

            Jim Davies as Second

            Hal Rand
            
            Donald Wilmot as Copy Boy
See full cast

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