Dead Reckoning (1947)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(1,853 ratings)

In Dead Reckoning, Rip Murdock (Humphrey Bogart) recites the film's plotline to a priest in the confessional. Murdock and Johnny Drake (William Prince) are Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, en route to Washington by train. Drake hops off and disappears, leading Murdock on a hectic manhunt.… More In Dead Reckoning, Rip Murdock (Humphrey Bogart) recites the film's plotline to a priest in the confessional. Murdock and Johnny Drake (William Prince) are Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, en route to Washington by train. Drake hops off and disappears, leading Murdock on a hectic manhunt. Upon meeting Drake's former girlfriend Coral Chandler (Lizabeth Scott), Murdock is thrown into a maelstrom of intrigue involving a crooked gambler (Morris Carnovsky) and a complex blackmailing scheme. The upshot of this is that Murdock finds himself the prime suspect in a murder. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: John Cromwell
Written By: Steve Fisher
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1947 Wide
On DVD: Jan 14, 2003
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
[A] deficient noir.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A bleak crime melodrama that is too complexly plotted for it own good.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Pretty good hardboiled thriller with Lizabeth Scott an OK stand-in for Bacall.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Pierluigi P

Brilliant, pessimistic, enchanting and fascinating tone, noir at its best. as always, Bogart rocks in his antiheroism.
AJ V

A good cast, but an average story, makes for an okay movie.
Bruce B

Another Humphrey Bogart Film that is over the top. Returning home from World War II, Captain "Rip" Murdock (Bogart) and Sergeant Johnny Drake are due for the Congressional Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross. Johnny Doesn't want not part of it and bolts from… More
Another Humphrey Bogart Film that is over the top. Returning home from World War II, Captain "Rip" Murdock (Bogart) and Sergeant Johnny Drake are due for the Congressional Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross. Johnny Doesn't want not part of it and bolts from the train, only later to be found dead. Johnny's lover is played by Lizabeth Scott who everyone falls in love with. She?s not a Becall but she?s as pretty as any female from the after WWII Time Frame. 4 1/2 stars
Ken S

I wasn't a huge fan of this. The lighting and style were adequate, the Bogart and Scott were solid, the only stand out was the dialog. For Noir complete-ests only.
xGary X

A marine freshly returned from service goes looking for his missing buddy and finds himself entangled in an old murder case. This film noir follows the formula almost to the letter, and has been copied and parodied many times since (most notably by Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and… More
A marine freshly returned from service goes looking for his missing buddy and finds himself entangled in an old murder case. This film noir follows the formula almost to the letter, and has been copied and parodied many times since (most notably by Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). It's a little heavy on the melodrama, and the supporting cast don't quite live up the performance of it's lead; Lizabeth Scott is lovely to look at, but she's no Bacall. As it lacks the extra touch of class brought by Wilder or Huston, the film is carried entirely by Bogart who could make a Coco Pops commercial cool, tough and uncompromising, and he saves it from mediocrity with his typically charismatic performance. Generic but entertaining.
Michael G

Disappointing even for a Bogart fan.
Anthony V

If you like Bogart and Film Noir, put this on your future viewing list.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Humphrey Bogart as Rip Murdock

            Lizabeth Scott as Coral Chandler

            Morris Carnovsky as Martinelli

            William Prince as Johnny Drake

            George Chandler as Louis Ord

            Charles Cane as Lt. Kincaid

            Ruby Dandridge as Hyacinth

            Marvin Miller as Krause

            Wallace Ford as McGee

            William Forrest as Lt. Col. Simpson

            Matthew 'Stymie' Beard as Bellboy

            James Bell as Father Logan

            John Bohn as Croupier

            Lillian Bronson as Mrs. Putnam

            Chester Clute as Martin

            Joseph Crehan as Gen. Steele

            Sayre Dearing as Croupier

            Dudley Dickerson as Waiter

            George Eldredge as Policeman

            Matty Fain as Ed

            Byron Foulger as Night Attendant

            Joe Gilbert as Croupier

            Dick Gordon as Dealer

            Wilton Graff as Surgeon

            Jesse Graves as Waiter

            Chuck Hamilton as Detective

            Alvin Hammer as Photographer

            Maynard Holmes as Desk Clerk

            Charles Jordan as Mike the Bartender

            Pat Lane as General's Aide

            William E. Lawrence as Stewart

            Garry Owen as Reporter

            Sid Saylor as Morgue Attendant

            Grady Sutton as Maitre d'Hotel

            Ray Teal as Motorcycle Policeman

            Frank Wilcox as Desk Clerk

            Isabel Withers as Nurse

            Harry Denny as Dealer

            Sam Finn as Raker

            Richard H. Gordon
            
            Jack Santoro as Raker

            Kay Garrett as Dealer

            Hugh Hooker as Bellboy

            Bob Ryan as Detective

            Lillian Wells as Pretty Girl

            Tom Dillon as Priest

            Robert E. Scott as Band Leader

            Paul Bradley as Man
See full cast