The Mugger
Director: William Berke
Year: 1958
Rating: 5.0
This was the second film to be based on an Ed
McBain 87th Precinct book of the same name. McBain's first three books were
all picked up and filmed. The others are Cop Hater (1958) and The Pusher
(1960). All low-budget but well done. This closely sticks with the book except
for one thing - they don't use the cops of the 87th. In the book, Carella
is on his honeymoon and Willis investigates one plot line while Bert Kling
investigates the other. Here a police psychiatrist takes over both cases.
Strikes me as unusual to have the psychiatrist chasing after a mugger and
a killer.
A number of muggings have been taking place.
The man grabs the women behind at night, cuts the strap of their bag, steals
it and leaves a small scar on her cheek. Dr. Pete Graham (Kent Smith) does
a profile on this that tells him this is a well-off man who has a compulsion
and will be grateful when the police catch him. Graham in his off-hours is
asked by his cab driver friend (James Franciscus) to talk to his siter-in-law
who seems to be going through a problem but won't tell his wife what it is.
She has a mysterious boyfriend - but when she is found dead with multiple
stab wounds and a missing purse, the cops assume it is The Mugger. Graham
doesn't. It doesn't fit the profile. It seems like a strange choice to get
the rights to an 87th Precinct book and then not include them. It turns it
into just another crime film. An ok one but we miss Carella and the gang.
George Maharis has a small role as the dead girl's creepy admirer - in two
years he would become a star with the TV series Route 66 - and that is Michael
Conrad (Hill Street Blues - Be Careful Out There) playing craps.
