Murder Is My Beat

1955

1h 16m

Mystery & Thriller

List

100%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

43%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

A police detective (Paul Langton) helps a singer (Barbara Payton) heading to prison for the murder of a man she claims is alive.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent Murder Is My Beat on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

j F

Well constructed murder mystery. The lead actress is a little bit shallow, but the plot, although a bit implausible, does work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/21/23

Full Review

Russ G

More hokey melodrama than film noir. Rife with implausible coincidences that only magnify the absurd premise. I give it two stars, one for each of the 1950's push-up bras worn by the leading lady and the femme fatale. Man, you could put an eye out with one of those!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/05/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The leads, Paul Langton and Barbara Payton, have no magnetism whatsoever. If not for director Edger G. Ulmer this would fall into the completely forgettable bin.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fairly pedestrian B movie noir. The story tolls along and the characters are interesting enough. But the sum of the parts is just a bit Meh

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

For the first time, I began to have my doubts. A detective is investigating a murder case where a beautiful singer who appears to be the obvious culprit claims the victim is still alive. She claims to have proof and takes the investigator on a mission to help her prove her innocence. Is the singer telling the truth or stringing the investigator along? "I was getting desperate." Edgar Ulmer, director of Detour, The Black Cat, People on Sunday, The Strange Woman, The Amazing Transparent Man, Hannibal (1959), and Club Havana, delivers Murder is My Beat. The storyline for this picture is very interesting and the script is well written. The cast delivers solid performances and includes Paul Langton, Barbara Payton, Robert Shayne, and Roy Gordon. "Don't be so sensitive, it doesn't look good on you." I came across this film on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR it. It was a clever film and I enjoyed watching it unfold. There were also some fun settings and shots. The overall film is not perfect, but is definitely entertaining and worth a viewing. "That girl was working both sides." Grade: B-

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a fair to good Movie noir Barbara Payton was a pretty actress who turned many guys heads in the 1950 tys. it is sad she had a troubled life and died at 39 in 1967.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Edgar G. Ulmer

Director

Paul Langton

Ray Patrick

Barbara Payton

Eden Lane

Robert Shayne

Police Captain Bert Rawley

Selena Royle

Beatrice Abbott

Roy Gordon

Abbott

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Violet Lucca

Slant Magazine

Most of its expressionist-tinged visual flourishes are withheld until the very end, with a final twist that's legitimately thrilling.

Jun 28, 2013

Full Review

John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Edgar G. Ulmer was Poverty Row's poet laureate of despair.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 8, 2013

Full Review

Paul Chambers

Movie Chambers

"Murder is my Beat" is not one of your better films of the film noir genre. But, this black & white thriller directed by Edgar G. Ulmer has enough going for it to permit a recommendation.

Rated: B-

Jan 26, 2013

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Visually superb cross between the whodunit and the film noir crime thriller.

Jan 18, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Packs some punch.

Rated: B+

Jun 4, 2004

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A police detective (Paul Langton) helps a singer (Barbara Payton) heading to prison for the murder of a man she claims is alive.

Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
Screenwriter: Aubrey Wisberg
Production Co: Allied Artists
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 31, 2016
Runtime: 1h 16m

Most Popular at Home Now