I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(716 ratings)

Well-known New York sports promoter Frankie Christopher (Victor Mature) is the prime suspect in the murder of Vicky Lynn (Carole Landis), a successful model and would-be actress. Questioned relentlessly by the police, and particularly by hulking detective squad commander Ed Cornell (Laird Cregar),… More Well-known New York sports promoter Frankie Christopher (Victor Mature) is the prime suspect in the murder of Vicky Lynn (Carole Landis), a successful model and would-be actress. Questioned relentlessly by the police, and particularly by hulking detective squad commander Ed Cornell (Laird Cregar), he maintains his innocence. Meanwhile, Vicky's sister Jill (Betty Grable) is also being questioned. Their answers, given in adjoining interrogation rooms, become the basis for brief, neatly constructed interlocking flashbacks at the opening of the movie that explain a ton of plot in very little time. Both are released after admitting nothing, and the police begin working on other suspects, including journalist Larry Evans (Allyn Joslyn), aging actor Robin Ray (Alan Mowbray), and hotel clerk William Harrison (Elisha Cook Jr.) Jill had little use for Frankie, the man who had been promoting her sister's career, but the two are drawn together in the course of trying to sort out their lives and the murder of her sister, and her realization that Frankie is capable of truly loving a woman, and not just exploiting her. Meanwhile, Cornell makes it his business to pressure and torment Frankie, illegally entering his apartment and promising him an arrest and a death sentence. Eventually, the noose seems to tighten around Frankie as the circumstantial evidence piles up, until Frankie, trying to clear himself, uncovers a clue leading back to the real killer -- who was known to Cornell all along. Confronting the detective in his apartment, Frankie discovers a veritable shrine to Vicky -- copies of her magazine covers and photos filling the walls of his apartment -- and learns that the man had his own dark reasons for wanting to kill him. His psychosis finally catching up with him, his career and reputation in ruins, Cornell reveals the truth to Frankie as he proceeds to take his own life. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: H. Bruce Humberstone
Written By: Dwight Taylor
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 14, 1941 Wide
On DVD: Jun 6, 2006

Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Representando um dos primeiros passos do cinema noir, é um filme que, apesar da boa presença de Cregar, mostra-se irregular em seu tom e que tropeça, também, na performance frágil de Mature.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Marvelously sinister performance by Laird Cregar.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Superior thriller from an underrated director.

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

Stella D

the director seemingly couldn't decide between creepy thriller and light hearted romance so the tone of the film is confusing. i'm not a fan of victor mature, tho he has a great noir face, his acting is too often over the top. betty grable is a lightweight who can't… More
the director seemingly couldn't decide between creepy thriller and light hearted romance so the tone of the film is confusing. i'm not a fan of victor mature, tho he has a great noir face, his acting is too often over the top. betty grable is a lightweight who can't handle drama at all well, and is shown up here by carole landis in one of her few substantial roles. the real reason to see the film is laird cregar whose performance is easily worth 3 stars
AJ V

This is sort of a confusing mystery, but mysteries that aren't confusing are boring. I loved this movie.
Randy T

Noir fans will like this one, others... well... maybe not so much. <i>I Wake Up Screaming</i> relies heavily on dialogue. Modern films of similar content are so laden with elaborate chase sequences and choreographed fight scenes that there's little time left for… More
Noir fans will like this one, others... well... maybe not so much. <i>I Wake Up Screaming</i> relies heavily on dialogue. Modern films of similar content are so laden with elaborate chase sequences and choreographed fight scenes that there's little time left for meaningful human conversation. It's sad that the spoken word and the colorful narrative are fast becoming lost art forms.
Ken S

sooo slow....soooo sloooowwwww
Michael G

Pretty boring. Boring in ways that make you bored when you think about trying to talk about it. I needed some excitement after I saw this so I went and watched some paint dry.
Steve B

One of my all-time favorite Noir flicks, ranking up there with DOUBLE INDEMNITY, MALTESE FALCON and OUT OF THE PAST.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Betty Grable as Jill Lynn

            Victor Mature as Frankie Christopher (Botticelli)

            Carole Landis as Vicky Lynn

            Laird Cregar as Ed Cornell

            Elisha Cook Jr. as Harry Williams

            William Gargan as Jerry McDonald

            Alan Mowbray as Robin Ray

            Allyn Joslyn as Larry Evans

            Chick Chandler as Reporter

            Cyril Ring as Reporter

            Morris Ankrum as Assistant District Attorney

            May Beatty as Lady Hendel

            Brooks Benedict as Man

            Stanley Blystone
            
            Wade Boteler
            
            Stanley Clements
            
            Dorothy Dearing as Girl at Table

            Eddie Dunn
            
            Ralph Dunn
            
            James Flavin
            
            Gregory Gaye as Headwaiter

            George Hickman as Newsboy

            Edward McWade
            
            Philip Morris as Detective

            Forbes Murray as Mr. Handel

            Frank Orth as Undertaker

            Albert Pollet as Waiter

            Dick Rich
            
            Harry Seymour as Bartender

            Harry Strang
            
            Basil Walker
            
            Paul Weigel as Old Man

            Cecil Weston as Police Matron

            Charles Lane as Florist Keating

            Pat McKee as Newsman

            Russ Clark as Policeman

            Tim Ryan
            
See full cast