Footsteps in the Night

In his last screen appearance Western star Bill Elliott loses the cowboy boots and goes out with his Florshiems on as Los Angeles Homicide Lieutenant Andy Doyle in this contemporary police drama. Doyle and his partner Sgt. Mike Duncan (Don Haggerty) are called to the scene when an apparently well liked retiree (Robert Shayne) is found murdered on the floor of his neighbor Henry Johnson's (Douglas Dick) Hollywood bungalow. Fearing he will be set up for a murder rap, Johnson flees the scene with Doyle and Duncan not far behind.

After the Monogram Pictures unit of Allied Artists was shutdown in 1953, the decision was made to discontinue production of Western films. To fulfill his contractual obligation to the studio Elliott appeared in a series of five crime dramas beginning with 'Dial Red O' in 1955. 'Footsteps in the Night', was helmed by prolific director Jean Yarbrough ( Abbott and Costello, Bowery Boys). Yarbrough was known for bringing films in quickly, competently and on budget, which is exactly what he does with this film. Yarbrough seemed to have a near religious like conviction that no movie should extend beyond 75 minutes.

'Footsteps' is the last entry in the Bill Elliot detective series and a pretty decent B crime flick. Definitely lower budget, it has the feel of an elongated television episode. Complete with campy but cool 1950's jazzy soundtrack and several exterior location shots, it makes this crime quickie worth a look.