I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

I Wake Up Screaming (originally titled Hot Spot) is a 1941 film noir. It is based on the novel of the same name by Steve Fisher, adapted by Dwight Taylor.

Director – H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers – Dwight Taylor (screen play), Steve Fisher (novel)

Cast –
Betty Grable as Jill Lynn
Victor Mature as Frankie Christopher
Carole Landis as Vicky Lynn
Laird Cregar as Ed Cornell
Alan Mowbray as Robin Ray
Allyn Joslyn as Larry Evans
Elisha Cook, Jr. as Harry Williams
Chick Chandler as Reporter
Cyril Ring as Reporter
Morris Ankrum as Asst. District Attorney
Charles Lane as Mr. Keating, Florist
Frank Orth as Caretaker
Gregory Gaye as Headwaiter
May Beatty as Mrs. Handel
Stanley Blystone as Detective (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin as Pedestrian (uncredited)

Watch “I Wake Up Screaming” (1941)

Plot

The story proceeds largely through a series of flashbacks, beginning with New York sports promoter Frankie Christopher being interrogated at a police station about the murder of a young actress, Vicky Lynn. Christopher recounts first meeting Vicky as a waitress at a restaurant when he was there with two friends, fading actor Robin Ray and gossip columnist Larry Evans. Christopher takes up a dare from his friends to turn Vicky into a star with their help.

Christopher succeeds, but Vicky betrays him by signing with a Hollywood producer. At the apartment she shares with her sister Jill, she finally tells Christopher she is leaving him while she is packing. Christopher reacts angrily, and the next morning Jill returns to the apartment to find her sister dead with Christopher standing by her body.

Not having enough evidence to hold Christopher for the murder, detective Ed Cornell lets him go, but is absolutely certain of Christopher’s guilt and vows to bring him to justice. Hounded by Cornell, who abuses his power, entering Christopher’s home and other residences without warrants, Christopher turns to Jill, who had not liked him very much but does not think that he could have killed her sister.

As Jill and Frankie begin to fall in love, they follow Vicky’s previous movements and encounters to find the real killer. Eventually, they conclude that she had been killed by the apartment building’s front desk manager, Harry Williams. Williams admits to the crime, but also tells Frankie that Cornell already knew of his guilt. Christopher, with the police close behind, goes to Cornell’s apartment, which he discovers is plastered with posters of Vicky, leading to a final confrontation in which Cornell admits to trying frame Christopher, due to jealousy over Vicky.