Richard – Rups, I forgot to do a title-search – I should have guessed somebody within this group of avid cinephiles already slapped down some coverage. Thanks for your link, which provides a far more thorough look at MYSTERY STREET. I was certainly also reminded of PSYCHO as we see the back of the car slowly submerge into the bog. Speaking of PSYCHO, last night I saw Janet Leigh in ACT OF VIOLENCE, which was bundled up with MYSTERY STREET on the same dvd from THE FILM NOIR COLLECTION, VOL. 4. I love those films where the past catches up with ya – it always does.

Mystery Street, directed meticulously by John Sturges with that glorious cinematography by John Alton, was one movie that I only recently discovered and, as a longtime Bostonian, found myself enjoying some of the city’s atmosphere in this movie. Some of that local flavor was pretty accurate, some was ersatz, and some, like Scollay Square, which is probably where that dive featured in the movie was located, is long gone. The best Boston accent, btw, was the wavering one affected by Jan Sterling, the lady you pictured above as “sparkling with erotic appeal.” An under-appreciated actress, in her way.