The Awful Sleuth

1951 0h 18m EN

🤯

10.0

MASTERPIECE

★10.0TMDB · 1

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Drug store soda jerk Bert is a true-crime buff who revels in detective magazines. But he doesn't recognize the notorious gangster he waits on, smiling Memphis Mike.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Bert Wheeler
Bert
Jean Willes
Ruthie
Ben Welden
Memphis Mike
Minerva Urecal
Bert's Mother-In-Law
Vernon Dent
Al Keefer
Tom Kennedy
Pinky
Ralph Volkie

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Richard Quine
Writers: Elwood Ullman
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 18-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

75 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Richard Quine, shot by Allen G. Siegler. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Henry DeMond shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Bert Wheeler and Jean Willes and Ben Welden carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0187704 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Richard Quine directs. Allen G. Siegler behind the camera. Henry DeMond cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 18-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
275 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Richard Quine, shot by Allen G. Siegler. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Henry DeMond shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Bert Wheeler and Jean Willes and Ben Welden carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0187704 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.