Taxus Baccata

Time to Kill is an American mystery film^[1] directed by Herbert I. Leeds.^[2] It is the first screen adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel The High Window,^[3][4] which was remade five years later as The Brasher Doubloon. The detective was changed from Philip Marlowe to Michael Shayne for this version, with Lloyd Nolan playing the part and Heather Angel in a rare turn as leading lady. It is also the final Michael Shayne film starring Lloyd Nolan made at Fox, who closed down their popular B movie unit which included Mr. Moto, Charlie Chan, and the Cisco Kid. In 1946 the series would be reborn at Producers Releasing Corporation with Hugh Beaumont taking over the role.

Plot

Cast

In order of billing:^[5]

• Lloyd Nolan as Michael Shayne
• Heather Angel as Myrle Davis
• Doris Merrick as Linda Conquest Murdock
• Ralph Byrd as Lou Venter, bodyguard
• Richard Lane as Lt. Breeze
• Sheila Bromley as Lois Morny
• Morris Ankrum as Alexander Morny
• Ethel Griffies as Mrs. Murdock
• James Seay as Leslie Murdock
• Ted Hecht as George Anson Phillips
• William Pawley as Mr. Hensch
• Syd Saylor as The Mailman
• Lester Sharpe as Elisha Washburn
• Charles Williams as The Dentist
• LeRoy Mason as Rudolph, the headwaiter
• George Melford as Minor Role (uncredited)

Production

Rights

20th Century Fox bought Raymond Chandler's novel The High Window for $3,500.^[6] RKO Pictures purchased the rights to Chandler's 1940 novel Farewell, My Lovely and made 1944's Murder, My Sweet which would have the character of Philip Marlowe.^[6][7]

Score

David Raksin was uncredited for his work on Time to Kill although the book Film Composers in America : A Filmography, 1911-1970 credits him.^[8] Emil Newman is credited with the film score of Superior "Michael Shayne" thrillers: Murders surround theft of valuable coin.^[4]

Screenplay

Time to Kill was written by Clarence Upson Young, based on Raymond Chandler's novel The High Window.^[3][4] Brett Halliday wrote a series of books with Michael Shayne as the lead character whereas Chandler's was Philip Marlowe. 20th Century Fox was looking for detective film series after the success of Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto film series in 1940.^[9][10]

Cinematography

Time to Kill's cinematographer was Charles Clarke.^[4]

Reception

Critical response

In 1978's The Detective in Hollywood by Jon Tuska claimed it "is in every way superior to the later remake, The Brasher Doubloon".^[7]

References

Citations

Sources

• Backer, Ron (2010). Mystery Movie Series of 1940s Hollywood. New York City: McFarland & Company. p. 321. ISBN 978-0786448647.
• Manchel, Frank (2001). Film Study: An Analytical Bibliography. Vol. 2. Madison, New Jersey: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 1198. ISBN 978-0838634127.
• McCarty, Clifford (2000). Film Composers in America : A Filmography, 1911-1970. New York City: Oxford University Press. p. 515. ISBN 9780195114737.
• Phillips, Gene D. (2000). Creatures of Darkness: Raymond Chandler, Detective Fiction, and Film Noir. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813121741.
• Pitts, Michael R. (1991). Famous Movie Detectives II. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-0810823457.
• Townsend, Guy M., ed. (2010). The Mystery Fancier (Vol. 1 No. 6) (Annotated ed.). San Bernardino, California: Borgo Press. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-1434403858.
• Young, R. G., ed. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies (1st ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 642. ISBN 978-1557832696.

External links

• Time to Kill at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Time to Kill at IMDb
• Review of film at Variety