TOO MANY WINNERS

US, 1947, 60 minutes, Black-and-white.

Hugh Beaumont, Trudy Marshall, Ralph Dunn, Claire Carleton, Charles Mitchell, John Hamilton, Grandson Rhodes, Ben Welden, Gary Gray.

Directed by William Baudine.

One of a series of private detective stories, featuring Hugh Beaumont as Michael Shayne. There are several sequels. Hugh Beaumont had a number of short feature roles in the 1940s, his private detective but audiences also seeing him as both charming and psychopathic in the brief film noir, Money Madness. But, he was famous for the long-running series, Leave it to Beaver as the father of the family.

This film is both serious investigation as well as often being played for laughs. Michael Shayne is very happy-go-lucky, casual in his treatment of his assistant, Phyllis, relying on his friendship with his journalist friend, Eddie. And, clashes with of the police, especially Ralph Dunn as Rafferty, who appeared in a number of the films, wanting to get the better of Michael Shayne.

Once again, Shane and his about to go on a holiday,, arriving to pay him not to investigate case. But, of course he does, interviewing a young woman who wants money for information, has a rendezvous with a former lover, head of several companies and settlers rose to race track, her then being found murdered. Plenty of complications and timing, an issue of tickets, the inventor of the camera, former criminals and new identities, thugs, assaults and murders – and, of course, the solution (this time not so unexpected).