Too Late for Tears (Killer Bait) (1949)

66% of users liked it
(409 ratings)

When Lizabeth Scott's Jane Greer husband Arthur Kennedy accidentally gets his mitts on $60,000 in stolen money, she insists that he keep the dough rather than turn it over to the authorities. Two-bit private eye Dan Duryea catches on to Scott's subterfuge, and demands that she turn the cash over to… More When Lizabeth Scott's Jane Greer husband Arthur Kennedy accidentally gets his mitts on $60,000 in stolen money, she insists that he keep the dough rather than turn it over to the authorities. Two-bit private eye Dan Duryea catches on to Scott's subterfuge, and demands that she turn the cash over to him. Scott persuades Duryea to split the money with her--then, determining that Kennedy might be too honest for everyone's own good, she murders her husband. To cover her tracks, Scott reports her husband as missing. This brings in yet another fly in the ointment: Don DeFore, the brother of Scott's first husband, who died under mysterious circumstances. The already knotted webs of intrigue become even more tangled before Scott's ironic comeuppance. Too Late for Tears was scripted by Roy Huggins, who later produced such TV detective series as The Rockford Files. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Byron Haskin
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Aug 13, 1949 Wide

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The husky-voiced winsome smiling Lizabeth Scott turns in a finely tuned performance as the femme fatale.

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

wow what a performance by lizabeth scott! well she's a little less wooden than usual anyway. mild mannered housewife morphs into psychotic killer when a suitcase full of cash lands in her car. it's a shame this film isn't better known. it's public domain and… More
wow what a performance by lizabeth scott! well she's a little less wooden than usual anyway. mild mannered housewife morphs into psychotic killer when a suitcase full of cash lands in her car. it's a shame this film isn't better known. it's public domain and not in the best condition. there were some really abrupt cuts in the version i saw. i hope this gets a restoration one day. lizabeth deserves it!
Stephen M

If you value your life, don't come between Lizabeth Scott and her money!
AJ V

An exciting, thrilling tale of money, crime, and marriage. I really liked this movie.

Cast

            Lizabeth Scott as Jane Palmer

            Don DeFore as Don Blake

            Dan Duryea as Danny Fuller

            Arthur Kennedy as Alan Palmer

            Kristine Miller as Kathy Palmer

            Barry Kelley as Lt. Breach

            Jimmy Ames as Fat Man

            Gregg Barton as Clerk

            Robert Bice
            
            John K. Butler as Little Man

            David Clarke as Sharber

            Jimmie Dodd as 2nd Bindlestiff

            Charles Flynn
            
            Billy Halop as Boat Attendant

            Perry Ivins as Attendant at Stand

            Robert Kellard
            
            George Mann as Texan

            John Mansfield as Carlos

            Alex Montoya as Customs Officer

            Virginia Mullen as Woman

            Robert Neff as Man in Black Car

            Jim Nolan as Parker

            Garry Owen as Officer at Switchboard

            Denver Pyle as Youth

            June Storey as Girl

            Carlos Thompson as Young Boy

            Harry J. Vejar as Teniente

            Billy Wayne as Gas Station Attendant

            Smoki Whitfield as Pete

            Richard Irving as 1st Bindlestiff

            Jack Shea as Policeman

            Renee Donatt as Young Girl

            George Backus as Policeman
See full cast