Double Alibi (1940)
Director:
Phil Rosen (as Philip Rosen)
Writers:
Frederick C. Davis (story), Harold Buchman (screenplay)
Stars:
Wayne Morris, Margaret Lindsay, William Gargan
Throughout most of the running time of Universal's Double Alibi, it looks as though ostensible hero Stephen Wayne (Wayne Morris) really is guilty of three murders. Even so, girl reporter Sue Carey (Margaret Lindsay) falls in love with Wayne, despite the fact that she also thinks he's guilty. This causes no end of discomfort for city editor Walter Gifford (William Gargan), who is in love with Sue himself, and police captain Orr (James Burke), who has a vested interest in seeing Wayne delivered to the executioner. By film's end, of course, Sue has helped to prove Wayne's innocence, through the simple expedient of stumbling upon the identity of the real killer. With so much going on, it's surprising that Double Alibicould squeeze in the traditional comedy relief of Roscoe Karns, cast once more as a wisecacking photojournalist.