Criminal Investigator (Monogram) (1942)

“Criminal Investigator’’ Is Thrilling Film Drama (Review) There are thrills a-plenty in “Criminal Investigator,” the Monogram picture which opened an engagement at the theatre last night. The story is absorbing drama throughout its length. Robert Lowery and Edith Fel-¥ lows are seen in the featured roles, and do complete justice to their parts, both as the centre of an exciting series of events and as the pair who are the principals in the romantic passages of the story. John Miljan is excellent in the role of an unscrupulous attorney, and others in the cast who do fine work are Charles Jordan, John Maxwell, Jan Wiley, Paul Bryar, George O’Hanlon and Lawrence Creighton. In the story, the sister of Miss Fellows is released from an unjustly incurred prison term, and is murdered immediately thereafter. Miss Fellows and Lowery, a newspaper reporter, join forces in tracking down the murderer, and become in-~ volved in a succession of powerfully dramatic situations. The climax of the picture finally brings the solution of many strange events. Jean Yarbrough has_ directed “Criminal Investigator’ with a fine sense of drama and suspense, and has contributed much to the unusual interest of the story, which moves swiftly from one high point to another. Lindsley Parsons produced, and the screenplay was written by George Jeske, with additional dialogue by Edmond Kelso. Mack Stengler receives credit for fine photographic work. This is a picture which will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final fadeout. A Question Of Altitude “The long and the short of it” are truly exemplified in “Crim inal Investigator,” ‘the Monogram murder mystery which Comes! tobne ss 4... 6. theatre on with Robert Lowery and Edith Fellows in the featured roles. Lowery is six feet, one inch tall, while Miss Fellows, the 'tiniest ingenue in Hollywood, ‘‘towers” to a height of only four feet, eleven inches. The players first realized the great difference in their respective heights when they stood 'together before the camera for a closeup early in the picture. “I notice,’ quipped the _ smiling Bob, “that you are inclined to look up to me.” “Don’t you believe it!’ quipped Edith, right back at him. “As a matter of fact, I don’t think you're on the level with me!” e Spooky Setting Next to the eerie atmosphere of a grave yard, an empty and darkened theatre after midnight holds the greatest terror for a_ great many people. That this holds true among seasoned veterans of the theatre as well as other scarey folk is the claim of John Miljan, who plays the principal villain role in Monogram’s murder mystery, “Criminal ing theatre. Miljan states he has known any number of players who will not enter the theatre after the crowds have departed and the lights and the glamor are darkened for the night. Especially is this true in old theatres that hold traditional tales of the past, where famous stars long dead, once held sway, says Miljan. Such a setting marks the ending of this thrilling picture. ee CREDITS Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS Directed by JEAN YARBROUGH Screenplay by GEORGE JESKE Photography MACK STENGLER Sound Engineer GLEN GLENN Add‘l. Dialogue EDMOND KELSO Film Editor JACK OGILVIE Cub Reporter Meets Unusual Success How a cub reporter is literally tossed into success as a newspaper reporter when he is on his first assignment, which was thrown to him as the underdog of the staff, is an interesting highlight of the dramatic Monogram hit, “Criminal Investigator,” coming to the screen OL Mes 6 dis cio, theatre starting The stalwart Robert Lowery will be seen as the underdog reporter who innocently enters on_ tasks where veteran scribes fear to tread, and covers himself with glory and gets the gal in the best accepted fashion. Further pleasure is in store for the fans who enjoyed early screen appearances of little Edith Fellows. She is now quite a young lady—19—and will be seen in the role of a junior college miss who runs into murder and mystery, and rescue at the hands of-the_ reporter. “Criminal Investigator” is an original screen play by George Jeske, and was produced by Lindsley Parsons and directed by Jean Yarborough. Among others appearing in supporting roles are John Miljan, Charles Jordan, John Maxwell, Jan Wiley, Vivian Wilcox and Paul Bryar. | EDITH FELLOWS | Terrorized by a murder gang, Edith Fellows has an exciting time of it in “Criminal Investigator,’ Monogram mystery drama at the Theatre. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 3 pt ty fy rg O mY 4 tH De 0 O ay ~N n O KS Fy wt a try C = = Za Q Robert Lowery as a crime-hunting newshawk interrogates Edith Fellows and John Miljan in “Criminal Investigator,’ Monogram’s fast-moving murder story at the.......... Theatre starting........... Two Column Cut or Mat No. 21 Teen-Age Actress Veteran | Of Stage and Screen Work Under ordinary conditions, a motion picture actress with a record of almost 18 years in the entertainment world would be thought of as almost ready for character parts, or roles in which a certain degree of maturity might be evident. Though¥* But not Edith Fellows. she is the possessor of such a record, this tiny film player, the screen's smallest leading lady, is little more than 19 years old, and has only now begun to play grownup parts! Miss Fellows comes _ to Sul Abe teehee theatre on........ in the principal feminine role of “Criminal Investigator,’ the Monogram drama in which she is featured with Robert Lowery. When little Edith was only a year and a half old, she was appearing before small club groups and similar gatherings in babyish songs and dances—and thus adding slightly to the family income. Later, with her grandmother, she went to Hollywood, and was four years old when she appeared in her first motion picture. While she was still skipping rope and playing with her dolls, Edith was building up acting experience, and by the time she had reached her teens was an accomplished actress. She made her first outstanding success as Claudette Colbert’s impish foster-daughter in “She Married Her Boss.’ The cast appearing with Miss Fellows and Lowery in “Criminal Investigator” is headed by John Miljan, and also includes Charles Jordan, John Maxwell, Jan Wiley, Paul Bryar, George O’Hanlon and Lawrence Creighton. Jeon Yarbrough directed for Producer Lindsley Parsons, and George Jeske wrote the screenplay, with additional dialogue by Edmond Kelso. Police Hunt | In Manhattan With New York City’s finest madly racing through Manhattan bent on the apprehension of a killer, a kidnapper and an embezzler, the action fans will find much to enjoy in “Criminal Investigator,’ Monogram’s melodramatic attraction coming to the screen of the Dainty and diminutive Edith Fel lows will be seen here as a grown up miss, and the intended victim :|0f the kidnaper, while other Mono gram players in the featured roles are Robert Lowery, John Miéiljan, Charles Jordan, Vivian Wilcox and; Jan Wiley, among others. The picture is an original screen story by George Jeske, and was produced by Lindsley Parsons and directed by Jean Yarbrough. /Sity, he was active throughout both Crimes Shown In Screen Drama The tragic results which follow a breach of faith by a trusted agent form the basis of “Criminal In| vestigator,” the Monogram drama which opens an engagement at the with Robert Lowery and Edith Fellows in the featured roles. Criminal acts pile upon one another in the effort to cover up the original crime, and ‘the lawbreakers become ever more tangled in a skein of guilt. The original act draws Lowery and Miss Fellows into an intensive search for the criminals, and it is through their efforts that a baffling case is brought to a startling conclusion. John Miljan heads the supporting cast in this absorbing screenplay, and other players in the company are Charles Jordan, John Maxwell, Jan Wiley, Lawrence Creighton and Vivian Wilcox. Child Star Now Leading Lady Edith Fellows, popular child star of many screen successes and now grown to young womanhood, returns to the screen here.......... in the Monogram _ melodrama, “Criminal Investigator,’ to be SCreened= fork. he days at the win at ate ON theatre. Miss Fellows has won popularity as both a capable actress and as songstress, and audiences will particularly remember her appealing singing portrayals when she appeared opposite such stars as Leo Carrillo. In this picture Miss Fellows has the role of a junior college miss, just entering the age when romance blooms, and, as the story goes, becomes the intended victim of a gang of kidnappers and embezzlers. Stalwart screen hero Robert Lowery, playing a cub reporter on the scent of crime, provides the other side of the romantic angles, while chief among others appearing are John Miljan, Charles Jordan, John Maxwell, Jan Wiley and Vivian Wilcox. Lindsley Parsons pro duced and Jean Yarbrough directed from the original screen play by George Jeske. | _ CRIME HUNTERS Robert Lowery assumes the role of protector to vivacious Edith Fellows in “Criminal Investigator,’ dram atic story of crime behind the scenes of Broadway’s gay life. The Monogram film opens............. BU sb See ee Theatre. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 4 Old-Time ‘Opera House’’ Actor’s Background As the source of all-around expe-¥ rience in ‘the theatre, nothing could equal the old-time “opera house” that was the centre of theatrical activity in the average small town before the show world had been so largely taken over by the motion picture. Such a theatrical association formed an important part of the youthful years of John Miljan, who CONTES: TOA GE ree Tea es theatre on a ea ane in “Criminal Investigator,’ the Monogram drama featuring Robert Lowery and Edith Fellows. Reared in the town of Lead, South Dakota, Miljan as a young man formed a connection with the local opera house, and soon found himself committed to an _ all-out participation in the conduct of the, enterprise. Since economy of operation was demanded by the manager, John was literally a man-ofall-work, performing the duties of an entire theatre staff. Of neces the day shift and the night shift. Miljan’s outside duties included billposting, running errands and handling baggage for incoming companies. but it was indoors that his various chores kept him busier than the proverbial one-armed paperhanger. At the theatre he was electrician and stage carpenter, janitor, ticket taker, usher, program distributor and scene shifter. After the show he helped in the hot dog stand near the opera house. “And the rest of the time,’ says Miljan, “I studied to be an actor myself. Finally I began to play small parts when, as often happened, the companies found themselves a man short.” Other players appearing with Robert Lowery and Edith Fellows in “Criminal Investigator’ are Charles Jordan, Jan Wiley, John _Maxwell, Paul Bryar, Vivian Wilcox, George O’Hanlon and Lawrence Creighton. Jean Yarbrough directed for Producer Lindsley Parsons, and the original story by Arthur Hoerl was adapted for the screen by George Jeske, ae re.