I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

In the murky shadows of the city, resides the relentless and unyielding "Big Ed" Cornell, an esteemed police inspector with an unrivaled record of convictions. His unwavering belief in justice is put to the test when Vicky Lynn, a former waitress metamorphosed into a Hollywood starlet-in-the-making, is found dead under puzzling circumstances. The prime suspect in the shadows of this glitzy tragedy is none other than Frankie Christopher, a larger-than-life sports promoter and a master of self-promotion. From the moment Frankie first encountered Vicky while she wove her way through the tables of a humble diner, he saw a raw diamond in her. With his innate knack for promotion, he crafted her into a social sensation, transforming her into a lucrative beauty queen destined for Hollywood's shimmering lights. However, the tides turn when Vicky is brutally murdered on the cusp of her flight to fame, leaving Frankie in the crosshairs of a murder investigation led by Inspector Cornell. Cornell's pursuit of justice is relentless, stalking Frankie like a relentless bird-of-prey, leaving no stone unturned in his quest to pin the murder on him. As the inspector's suspicion intensifies, Frankie finds himself in the grip of a modern-day witch hunt. The once confident promoter is now caught in a dangerous game, with the sinister shadow of the electric chair looming over him. Amidst this chaos, the only person Frankie can turn to for help is Jill, Vicky's enigmatic sister who has always harbored cold sentiments towards him. As Frankie grapples with Cornell's intense scrutiny, the tangled web of deceit, ambition, and homicide unravels, pulling everyone into its vortex. Underneath the glitz and glamour of the city, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues in "I Wake Up Screaming", a chilling tale of justice, ambition, and twisted fate.

I Wake Up Screaming is a crime movie featuring Betty Grable.

I Wake Up Screaming is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.