This week’s mystery movie was the 1947 RKO film Riffraff, with Pat O’Brien, Walter Slezak, Anne Jeffreys, Percy Kilbride, Jerome Cowan, George Givot, Jason Robards and Marc Krah.
Executive producer Jack J. Gross.
Original screenplay by Martin Rackin.
Photography by George E. Diskant.
Art direction by Albert S. D’Agostino and Walter E. Keller.
Music by Roy Webb.
Musical director C. Bakaleinikoff.
Special effects by Russell A. Cully.
Set decoration by Darrell Silvera and Michael Orenbach.
Edited by Philip Martin.
Sound by John E. Tribby and Terry Kellum.
Gowns by Renie.
Dialogue direction by Leslie Urbach.
Produced by Nat Holt.
Directed by Ted Tetzlaff.
Further information on Riffraff is available from the AFI Catalog.
Riffraff is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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Once again the mystery movie is dealing, though tangentially, with the oil industry. The opening of the film, without dialogue, is stunning, though the rest of the film doesn’t measure up. The movie is visually quite interesting, but the plot is somewhat convoluted and Pat O’Brien is miscast as the lead.
I’m guessing we have early Bosley Crowther or one of the “alphabet critics,” who dismissed the film.
And that is what we have — A.W. (probably Abe Weiler) in The New York Times, June 30, 1947:
The combination of treasure hunt, whodunit and a motley crew of fortune hunters all operating in a properly mysterious Latin American setting should make for unique film fare. But Riffraff, which arrived at the Palace on Saturday, only emerges a notch above the run-of-the-murder adventure, despite a thoroughly engrossing beginning and some crisp dialogue.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Julian Rivero.
For Tuesday, we have another mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Fred Essler.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have still another mysterious chap.
Update: This Jerome Cowan.
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Percy Kilbride, sans Marjorie Main.
And another mystery chap.
Update: This is Walter Slezak.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Greg (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Sylvia (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Chrisbo (Wednesday’s mystery chap), Stacia (mystery movie and all mystery guests, Funky PhD (Wednesday’s mysterious gent), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mysterious gent), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious fellow) and Megan and Thom (Wednesday’s mystery guest).
For Friday, we have our mysterious leads.
Update: This is Anne Jeffreys and Pat O’Brien.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Megan and Thom (mystery movie with Thursday’s mysterious gents), Greg (mystery movie and upcoming mysterious leads), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus upcoming mysterious leads), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guest), Funky PhD (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery gents) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
HOUSE ON 92ND ST. Charles Wagenheim yesterday and Vincent Gardenia today.
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An interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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The possible date is throwing me. Was going to guess a Native American actor for Monday, but the ones on the list I found seemed too young.
Now Tuesday seems a more recent year than I was thinking.
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Jerome Cowan today. I’M in right era.
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SCENE OF THE CRIME. Erno Verebes Monday, Romo Vincent yesterday, Jerome Cowan today. Someone’s out of movie jail!
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Jerome Cowan on Wednesday?
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Not positive, but almost sure as Jerome Cowan has appeared. Looked for some “Larry Themes” in his list of films. Don’t think you’re done with ‘Oil’ and this movie touches on that. It’s got an L.A. location icon with Angels Flight. And it’s Film Noir with a twist. So here goes.
Night Has a Thousand Eyes 1948 – John Farrow director
Mon – still searching – maybe he’s in the flashback?
Tues – John Alexander (not yelling “Charge!” for a change.)
Weds – Jerome Cowan
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Oh well. No dice. I’ll keep searching.
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Jerome Cowan Wednesday?
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Wednesday is Jerome Cowan so this must be RIFFRAFF! Monday looks like Julian Rivero and I think Tuesday is Fred Essler,
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Wednesday’s mysterious chap looks to be Jerome Cowan.
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Jerome Cowan
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Jerome Cowan.
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For “Hm Wednesday,” we have Jerome Cowan — probably with Anne Jeffreys cropped out — in Riffraff (1947)
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And I think Monday’s mysterious fellow is Jason Robards (Sr.)
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Sorry that the movie is NOT Night Has a Thousand Eyes – What a tale!
Anyway back to the drawing board. Jerome is my only “for sure” and he must be in a thousand movies.
I think I’m right about the 40’s era, but Monday’s image throws me. I still feel that the guy could be Native American, but the screencap could be late 30’s or 40’s…hmmmm
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On Wednesday, a cheerful Jerome Cowan?
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Jerome Cowan on Wednesday?
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Today’s guest is Jerome Cowan.
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D’oh, I’ve seen this at Noir Fest. RIFF RAFF, another oil movie ! Julian Rivero Monday, Marc Krah Tuesday, Jerome Cowan Eednesday, and Percy Kilbride and Walter Slezak for Wednesday.
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Our movie is Riffraff with Percy Kilbride and Walter Slezak for today.
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The movie is Riffraff from 1947. Anne Jeffreys and Pat O’Brien are waiting in the wings.
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Okay. Keeping the “Larry Themes”: Oil and 40’s Noir with a twist. Then jettisoning L.A. icons. We head for South America instead…
Riff Raff 1947
Mon – the airport manager I think, so this would be Julio Rivero
Tues – the doomed passenger with a suitcase, Fred Essler
Wed – Jerome Cowan
Thur – Percy Kilbride and Walter Slezak (no mustache!)
That leaves Anne Jeffries and Pat O’Brien for Friday
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Where’s Lou Lubin in this sorry collection of riffraff?
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Percy Kilbride and Walter Slezak in RIFF RAFF.
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Thursday’s mysterious chaps: Percy Kilbride and Walter Slezak. That would make the film “Riffraff.”
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This is embarrassing. I can’t remember if I submitted something already or not, but Jerome Cowan, Percy Kilbride and Walter Slezak know I meant to say “Riffraff,” 1947. Not to be confused with the Spencer Tracy/Jean Harlow Riffraff from the previous decade.
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Looks like Walter Slezak in RIFF RAFF 1947
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PAT O’Brien today.
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Riffraff (1947) w/ Pat O’Brien, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak, Percy Kilbride, Jerome Cowan, Jason Robards Sr…
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Anne and Pat together again.
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