Thu 17 Nov 2011
ACCUSED OF MURDER. Republic Pictures, 1956. David Brian, Vera Ralston, Sidney Blackmer, Virginia Grey, Warren Stevens, Lee Van Cleef, Barry Kelley, Elisha Cook Jr. Screenplay by W. R. Burnett, based on his novel, Vanity Row. Director: Joseph Kane.
Time was starting to run out for Republic Pictures when this film was produced, and as it so happened, the end of Vera (Hruba) Ralston’s motion picture career was close to ending as well. Republic lasted until 1959, while Miss Ralston’s last appearance on film was in 1958. That their fortunes were so long tied together is due to one fact: she was the longtime protege of Republic Pictures studio head Herbert J. Yates, whose last year on top was also — you guessed it — 1958.
Her acting abilities, never regarded very highly, were probably adequate for most of the generally low budget films she was in, and over the years, there were 27 of them. In Accused of Murder she’s a night club singer who’s suspected of murdering a high-flying attorney (Sidney Blackmer) in debt to the mob, but luckily for her, the homicide lieutenant in charge of case (David Brian) finds himself falling in love with her, and he’s the only person standing between her and a life in prison.
Definitely not believing her story is Brian’s second-in-command, a very young Lee Van Cleef, whose way of carrying himself reminded me a lot of Lee Marvin, lean and lanky and in so smooth control of himself.
There’s more to the story than this, including a scar-faced hit man (Warren Stevens) whom we see being paid for killing Blackmer, and a would-be blackmailer, a dime-a-dance girl (Virginia Grey) who saw Stevens at the scene of the crime. There are a few twists to the tale, some of them quite clever, or there would have been if we (the viewer) hadn’t been shown too much in the beginning, and yet not enough to stop us from puzzling over whatever it was that wasn’t shown. Speaking entirely for myself, you understand.
Adequate, therefore, but all around? Only adequate. There’s no other word that might apply, unless it was mediocre, and truthfully, Accused of Murder is a step above that. It’s a small step, but a step, nonetheless.
November 17th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
You mention Vera Ralston’s career as being “probably adequate” but I cannot watch her without cringing. John Wayne refused to appear in anymore films with her because he thought it might hurt his career.
I never even thought she had the looks to be a star and her thick accent was a distraction. Her acting was even worse. I see the IMDB says Yates lost his job in 1958 because he mishandled TV rights for Republic. Another reason would be his habit of producing movies that starred Ralston and lost money.
It’s funny but one thing Republic got right was picking pretty girls for the westerns and serials and then then along came Vera Ralston, thanks to Herbert Yates.
November 18th, 2011 at 7:18 am
Walker,
Ain’t you ever been in love?
Steve,
Your assessment of this as “adequate” applies to the book, too; definitely a mediocre effort from a writer who did better.
November 18th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I’m glad I found a scene in the picture with Lee Van Cleef in it. I think it reinforces my description of him perfectly. He’d already been making movies for six years, so he was no newcomer, even though for some reason, that was the impression I got. What’s important is that whenever he was on the screen in this one, he stole the scene, every time.
David Brian was only 44, but in comparison, he looks old and tired, and as an actor, very stiff in the leading role.
November 18th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
A little surprised that you forgot that Herbert Yates promoted Vera Ralston from protege to wife in 1952.
(Which latter fact might well have accelerated Republic’s decline.)
November 18th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Some of the Vera Ralston comments are sarcastic nonsense. She was in pictures for a long time, and many made money. In the ability department, she obviously wasn’t Irene Dunne or Myrna Loy. Not required. And, in a few things, Jubillee Trail for example, she is quite good. And, let’s not quote John Wayne indirectly. To the best of my knowledge, he made a lot of money at Republic. He left because Yates double crossed him and Ford relative to Quiet Man percentages.
November 18th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Thanks, Barry, for another perspective!
Here’s more (from Wikipedia):
“For her work in films, Ralston has a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
“The authors of the book The Golden Turkey Awards nominated her for the dubious honor of ‘The Worst Actress of All Time,’ along with Candice Bergen and Mamie Van Doren. They all lost to Raquel Welch.”
Fair appraisals of her abilities are hard to find. Here’s the best I’ve come across:
http://www.shoestring.org/mmi_revs/veraralston-ms-102853906.html
The author concludes by saying:
“Blanche Yurka, a great stage and film actress who worked with Vera Ralston on 1947’s THE FLAME, said, ‘Vera worked so hard to be a good actress that she won everyone’s empathy.’ Maybe that’s why, in retrospect, I enjoy her work so much. While so many of her less gallant colleagues seem to be disowning their own participation in her films, Vera Ralston took the high road, stayed in the game and did her best.”
July 6th, 2022 at 8:25 am
I just saw Vera Ralston in THE FLAME and think she did her job very well. And she looks cute, so I understand HETBERT YATES. Well done, Herbert. Money doesn’t matter anyway, it’s the fun you have and I hope Herbert did have a lot of it.
July 12th, 2022 at 10:36 pm
I watched this movie just to see the young Lee van Cleef and he did not disappoint.
April 4th, 2024 at 9:14 pm
[…] W. R. BURNETT – Vanity Row. Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 1952. Pennant P7, paperback, 1953 (cover art by Harry Schaare). Stark House, softcover, 2015, with Little Men, Big World. Filmed as Accused of Murder (Republic, 1956); previously reviewed on this blog here. […]