The Mugger

Summary

The Mugger is a 1958 American film noir-crime film about a police psychiatrist who is attempting to catch a mysterious mugger that has been attacking women in his city, stealing their purses and slashing their left cheek. The film is a police procedural in structure, focusing on psychiatrist Dr. Pete Graham's investigation into the title character's identity.[1]

The Mugger
Directed byWilliam Berke
Screenplay byHenry Kane
Based onThe Mugger
(novel)
by Ed McBain
Produced byWilliam Berke
StarringKent Smith
Nan Martin
James Franciscus
CinematographyJ. Burgi Contner
Edited byEverett Sutherland
Music byAlbert Glasser
Production
company
Barbizon Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • November 1958 (1958-11)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film's screenplay, written by Henry Kane, is based on the novel of the same name by Evan Hunter (writing under the pen name Ed McBain). William Berke directed the film, the second of two adaptions of Hunter's 87th Precinct novels he released in 1958 (following Cop Hater). It was Berke's final completed film as a director; he died the same year.[2]

It was filmed in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York. Several of the car scenes were filmed on the Belt Parkway. The Veterans Hospital located on the Fort Hamilton Army Base with no Verazzano Bridge can be seen during the first car scene. The restaurant scene was filmed on 67th Street and 4th Avenue right next to the subway exit. Other Bay Ridge locations can be seen throughout the film as well.[citation needed]

Plot edit

Cast edit

References edit

  1. ^ Schweier, Philip (20 March 2014). "Guest Review: Ed McBain Double Feature—Cop Hater (1958) and The Mugger (1959)". thrillingdaysofyesteryear.blogspot.com. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  2. ^ William Berke IMDB bio, access 21 March 2014

External links edit

  • The Mugger at IMDb