There once was a time when a movie could run an hour and still be considered a feature film. Imagine going to a theater today and paying for something slightly longer than a television episode. But back when moviegoers weren’t charged an arm, a leg and their firstborn to enjoy a show, an hour was perfectly fine, especially since they often got cartoons, newsreels and a co-feature for their hard-earned change.
Besides, some movies obviously don’t need to be any longer than an hour. Case-in-point, 1949’s Follow Me Quietly runs a scant 59 minutes, and even then, it occasionally struggles to maintain interest. The basic story is pretty good, that of Detective Harry Grant (William Lundigan) on the trail of a zealous serial killer simply known as “The Judge.” Grant also frequently clashes with ambitious reporter Ann Gorman (Dorothy Patrick).
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| As usual, Harry is left with the check. |
From a historical perspective, Follow Me Gently is noteworthy for being an early effort by Richard Fleischer, with a story co-conceived by Anthony Mann, two legends who’d obviously go on to much bigger things. The film itself is little more than a Hollywood footnote, but an agreeable way to kill an hour.
EXTRA KIBBLES
DARK SHADOWS - Another short in the “Crime Does Not Pay” series, and a bit better than most.
TRAILER
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