The Scarf (1951)

The Scarf is a 1951 American film noir directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring John Ireland, Mercedes McCambridge, James Barton, and Emlyn Williams. The screenplay concerns a man who escapes from an insane asylum and tries to convince a crusty hermit, a drifting saloon singer, and himself that he is not a murderer.

Director – Ewald André Dupont

Writers – Ewald André Dupont (screenplay), Isadore Goldsmith (story), E.A. Rolfe (story)

Cast –
John Ireland as John Howard Barrington
Mercedes McCambridge as Connie Carter
James Barton as Ezra Thompson
Emlyn Williams as Dr. David Dunbar
Lloyd Gough as Asylum Dr. Gordon
Basil Ruysdael as Cyrus Barrington
David Bauer as Level Louie (as David Wolfe)
Harry Shannon as Asylum Warden Anderson
Celia Lovsky as Mrs. Cyrus Barrington
David McMahon as State Trooper
Chubby Johnson as Feed Store Manager
Frank Jenks as Tom – Drunk cowboy
Emmett Lynn as Jack the Waiter
Dick Wessel as Sid – Drunk cowboy
Frank Jaquet as Town Sheriff
Iris Adrian as the floozy at Level Louie’s Place

Watch “The Scarf” (1951)

Plot

John Ireland stars as John Barrington, an escapee from an institution for the criminally insane. Actually, Barrington is not insane, but the victim of a plot orchestrated by a clever murderer. The only person who believes Barrington’s story is Ezra Thompson (James Barton) a turkey farmer who hides him from the authorities. Then a singing waitress named Cash-and-Carry Connie (Mercedes McCambridge) unwittingly provides the clue that will prove Barrington’s innocence. Emlyn Williams co-stars as a psychiatrist.