This bright poster was made for the b-drama The Girl in Black Stockings. It had its world premiere in England today in 1957 and, in contrast to the art, is a colorless murder mystery set in and around a lodge hotel in a tiny western U.S. town—the kind of place where, you know, “nothing like this has ever happened before.” Lex Barker stars as a Los Angeles lawyer who goes to this arid little stopover for peace and quiet, but discovers a body that’s been mutilated as though by a psychopath. A county official warns, “The type that did this—they don’t stop with just one.”
Sure enough, more deaths follow and—as doctors are wont to do—Lex inserts himself right into the middle of the investigation. His professional acumen is needed. There are a lot of suspects. Anne Bancroft as the local beauty, Mamie Van Doren as a stereotypical blonde floozy, Ron Randell as a woman hating lodge owner who’s confined to a wheelchair—or is he?—and Marie Windsor as his unhealthily attached spinster sister are all under the suspicious gaze of the plodding but tenacious sheriff John Dehner.
Sadly, the mystery isn’t compelling and the dramatic aspects of the narrative are blah because none of the characters are interesting. All the main actors have done well in other movies, but here they’re hobbled by a poor script, particularly Randell, who’s forced to mouth numerous cynical and self pitying soliloquies. Van Doren, who we feel confident saying cannot act, is also bad here. She has a drunk scene that will make you cringe, it’s so wooden.
The end result is a dismissable movie that’s only barely remembered because it was shot in Utah, which provides some nice scenery, and because it has Van Doren, who was obviously cast to provide a different type of scenery, and achieves that function with ease. We’ll always take a look at any film in which she appears. She’s no Marilyn. But she’s not far behind. Yet even with her presence and some long looks at the Beehive State, we can’t recommend The Girl in Black Stockings.
Oh good Lord! She’s been murdered and mutilated beyond recognition! Somebody call a doctor!
What the..! Don’t you knock? I’m in the midst of a consultation here!
I can advise you only informally until I hear back from the town’s insurance network, Sheriff. But you might start with an immediate canvassing effort and a check for similar crimes in the state going back at least ten years.
Actually, knowing there’s a killer on the loose and any of us could be snuffed out next doesn’t make me horny, Diana. But thanks for thinking of me.
Well, Sheriff, turns out the town has a three murder deductible. I’m afraid my hands are tied until a fourth person is slain.
