This week’s mystery movie was the 1956 Columbia picture Hot Blood, with Jane Russell, Cornel Wilde, Luther Adler, Joseph Calleia, Mikhail Rasumny, Nina Koshetz, Helen Westcott, Jamie Russell, Wally Russell, Nick Dennis and Richard Deacon.
Screenplay by Jesse Lasky Jr.

Based on a story by Jean Evans.

Photographed in CinemaScope.

Color by Technicolor.

Photography by Ray June.

Technicolor consultant Henri Jaffa.

Music composed and conducted by Les Baxter.

Lyrics by Ross Bagdasarian.

Art direction by Robert Peterson.

Edited by Otto Ludwig.

Set decorations by Frank Tuttle.

Choreography by Matt Mattow and Sylvia Lewis.

Assistant director Milton Feldman.

Recording supervisor John Livadary.

Sound by Lambert Day.

Miss Russell’s makeup by Layne Britton.

Miss Russell’s hairdresser Stephanie McGraw.

Produced by Howard Welsch and Harry Tatelman.

Directed by Nicholas Ray.

More on the history of Hot Blood is available from the AFI Catalog.

Hot Blood is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Videos.

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I picked Hot Blood based on reviews in the trades, which promised a rollicking comedy, something that would be a change from last week’s Bright Victory. It turns out that Hot Blood is definitely a period piece that ought to be viewed, if possible, through a lens of the 1950s. It’s a light diversion, with abundant stereotypes and an entirely predictable story. The photography, as the review notes, is excellent.

I’m going to guess Bosley Crowther hated it and carped at length about Jane Russell. Upping the ante by guessing that he’ll find some obvious play on “hot” in the title.

Alas, the review (March 24, 1956) is by a previously unknown alphabet critic, M.E. But otherwise, I nailed it:

Gypsy life, with music, color, CinemaScope and, last but not least, Jane Russell, came to the Palace yesterday in Hot Blood.

It is no sociological exploration of gypsy life. Hollywood knows better than to waste Miss Russell in something like that. For their heroine, the producers wanted only a tempestuous, flamboyant, seductive lady, Physically, Miss Russell scores.

Otherwise, despite fine character portrayals by Luther Adler, Joseph Calleia and the late Mikhail Rasumny, as a sort of gypsy elder statesman, Hot Blood is lukewarm stuff.

For Monday, we have a mystery woman. And for once, she approves of such goings-on!

Update: This is Nina Koshetz.

For Tuesday, we have a mystery fellow. His mysterious companion, Back of the Head Guy’s brother Side of the Head Guy, lacks sufficient mysteriousness for Tuesday and has been cropped out for now.

For Thursday, adding Side of the Head Guy.

Update: This is Jane Russell’s brother Wally as Bimbo, with Luther Adler as Side of the Head Guy. (Apologies to Anne Papineau, who correctly identified Wally Russell. I went all week thinking he was Jamie Russell.)

Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious palmist) and Benito* (mystery movie).

*Languishing in the spam folder. Apologies!

For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mystery woman. Also a mysterious car.

Update: This is Helen Westcott in a 1955 T-Bird.

Note to Howard: He’s in the movie but in a different role.

For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious fellow.

Update: This is Mikhail Rasumny in his last film.

And also this mysterious fellow as well. He does not approve of such goings-on, incidentally. His entire acting career consisted of not approving of such goings-on.

Update: This is Richard Deacon.

Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mysterious fellow and Wednesday’s mystery woman) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests). Earl and Greg: Wednesday’s mystery car.

For Friday, we have our mysterious leads, plus other mysterious companions.

Update: This is, from left, Cornel Wilde, Joseph Calleia, Jane Russell and Luther Adler.

Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mysterious Side of the Head Guy and Thursday’s mystery guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie, Tuesday’s Side of the Head Guy, Wednesday’s mystery woman and Thursday’s sitcom veteran), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s Side of the Head Guy and Thursday’s sitcom veteran), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mysterious sitcom veteran), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Tuesday’s Side of the Head Guy, Wednesday’s mystery woman and Thursday’s sitcom veteran) and Bruce (Thursday’s sitcom veteran).