Homicide (1949)

In the shadowy underbelly of Los Angeles, Detective Landers (Robert Douglas) of the Homicide Bureau stumbles upon a peculiar case. The lifeless body of a wandering ranch worker is discovered in a seedy downtown hotel, sending whispers of murder ricocheting through Landers' keen mind. Despite being officially sidelined from the case, Landers' relentless pursuit of justice propels him into an unofficial investigation clad in the guise of a leisurely vacation. His journey leads him to the opulent Glorietta Springs Hotel, drawn by a book of matches bearing the hotel's logo discovered at the murder scene. Amidst a constellation of cryptic clues including an amateur hangman's knot and a solitary saccharin pill, Landers navigates the hotel's labyrinthine corridors and shady patrons. He crosses paths with Andy (Robert Alda), the enigmatic bartender, and Jo Ann Marlowe (Helen Westcott), the hotel's intriguing cigarette girl. Following Jo Ann's lead, Landers delves further into the mystery, discovering a nearby ranch plagued by the suspiciously "accidental" death of its owner. A strand of telephone wire discovered on the ranch leads Landers back to the Glorietta Springs Hotel and straight into Andy's room. Unraveling Andy's past, Landers discovers a medical discharge from the Navy due to diabetes, adding another layer to the complex puzzle. As Landers delves deeper into the tangled web of deceit, he finds himself ensnared in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, fraught with complications, treachery, and an impending ambush.

Homicide is a crime movie featuring Robert Douglas and directed by Felix Jacoves.

Homicide is currently streaming on DIRECTV and fuboTV.