The Tattooed Stranger (1950)

In the crisp dawn of a New York City morning, a park stroller with his dog stumbles upon a chilling sight: a lifeless Jane Doe, shot dead in the passenger seat of a parked car. The case is promptly handed over to the seasoned and hardened Lieutenant Corrigan by Homicide Chief Captain Lundquist. He's joined by Detective Frank Tobin, a college-educated former lab investigator now thrust into the gritty realities of fieldwork. The unlikely duo, Corrigan with his rough-edged experience and Tobin with his analytical acumen, are tasked with unravelling the mysterious identity of the woman, her killer, and the motive behind the murder. One of their first clues is a distinctive tattoo on the victim's wrist, the emblem of the United States Marine Corps, a lead that unveils a shocking revelation. The woman was a bigamist, systematically defrauding the U.S. Government by marrying WWII servicemen and cashing in their insurance checks after their deaths. At the same time, Tobin's trail heats up, suggesting a tall male killer. As the investigation progresses, the duo's contrasting styles either serve as a strength or a source of tension, making for a captivating dynamic. Further clues lead Tobin to Dr. Mary Maher, a botanist whose professional assistance proves invaluable. But beyond the case, Tobin finds himself irresistibly drawn to her. The case culminates in a thrilling showdown in a tombstone cutter's storage yard, where Tobin's growing evidence and instincts come face to face with the killer. "The Tattooed Stranger" is a blend of semi-documentary realism and gritty noir, a dramatic exploration of crime in the heart of New York City, where the pursuit of justice takes unexpected turns.

The Tattooed Stranger is a crime movie featuring Jim Boles.

The Tattooed Stranger is currently streaming on DIRECTV.