Apology for Murder

Investigative journalist "Blake" (Hugh Beaumont) is looking into a lucrative business deal that might be in the offing for the wealthy "Kirkland" (Russell Hicks). An impromptu meeting, though, introduces him to a new proposition - the man's much younger wife "Toni" (Ann Savage). She's unhappy, soon seeking solace in his arms and plotting his demise. "Blake" is initially unwilling to co-operate, but she's a clever woman and... The question is, can they get away with it and manage to frame "Jordan" (Pierre Watkin) for good measure? At just over the hour, this is quite a watchable crime thriller with plenty of feminine wiles, manipulation, betrayal and an ending that delivers just desserts a-plenty. No, it's not a great or especially memorable film and I could have done with someone like Barbara Stanwyck in the lead (they could have too, I guess) but if you like the genre you'll enjoy this readily enough.

This film essentially involves an extremely wealthy businessman by the name of "Harvey Kirkland" (Russell Hicks) who has had the misfortune to have married a woman who is much younger than him and is interested in only one thing-his money. As it so happens, he is involved in a huge business deal and because of that the local newspaper sends a reporter named "Kenny Blake" (Hugh Beaumont) to try to get an interview with him. Although he is successful in meeting with him he is denied an interview and is asked to leave his house. On his way out, however, he meets Harvey's wife "Toni Kirkland" (Ann Savage) who immediately catches his attention. One thing leads to another and soon they become romantically involved. It's during this time that she convinces him to help her kill her husband so that they can have his entire fortune for themselves. But what Kenny doesn't know is whether she actually loves him or just wants to get her hands on her husband's money. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film started off well enough but slowed down after the first 30 minutes or so and ended on a very corny note. Even so, I suppose it helped pass the time fairly well and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

The minor Hollywood studios and companies usually waited a decent interval---say two or three years--- before they made their own version of a major company film, but good old PRC had an early-day version of the TV mentality that says if it was good last week, we'll make it again tomorrow. Rigor mortis hadn't set in on Fred MacMurray's "Double Indemnity" character before PRC had their own grind-house version playing. Nothing to it; just change the insurance salesman and company cop to a reporter and his editor; cast Ann Savage (who else?) in Barbara Stanwyck's scheming, double-dealing wife role and tell the exhibitors it will be ready in two weeks. And who needs Billy Wilder and James M. Cain when they have Sam Newfield and Fred Myton? Not any of us PRC-schlock lovers for certain. The super market scene-lovers could be disappointed.

Apology for Murder Review by Denise Noe

The movie opens with a uniformed maid answering a door. Journalist Kenny Blake (Hugh Beaumont of Leave It To Beaver fame) says he is with The Daily Tribune. Before he can continue, he is distracted by the sound of what is happening in a nearby room behind a closed door. A man is giving a tongue lashing to a woman about her "extravagance." He threatens, "If necessary, I'll cancel your charge accounts." Then we are inside the room. We see an aging and gray-haired fellow behind a large desk. The woman to whom he speaks sits with her back to us in a comfortable chair. We see her shapely legs, one going idly back and forth. She warns that his reputation could be damaged by the "rumor that you are in financial difficulties." Back to the pushy reporter who wants to interview Mr. Kirkland. The maid tries to restrain him but Kenny barges in. He informs business tycoon Harvey Kirkland (Russell Hicks) that the newspaper i interested in plans to join his business with another. Our entrepreneur is not interested in an article on his business. Kenny rattles off reasons why the story has "human interest" when his attention is caught by the shapely legs recently mentioned. Then Toni Kirkland (Ann Savage) shows her face, causing Kenny to become even more distracted. However, get-the-story reporter that he is, Kenny continues pitching the potential benefits of a newspaper article to old man Kirkland even as Toni rises from her chair and his lascivious attention follows her to the door. Nothing is going to persuade the entrepreneur to want a story.

Before Kenny can leave, Toni speaks to him in a flirtatious manner. Kenny has a strong interest in this mansion that is no longer professional. It is not too long before Kenny and Toni are dating. But things seem to go south. Kenny had assumed that young Toni was Kirkland's daughter. He is flummoxed to learn he has been "running around with another man's wife." Toni assumed he knew she was Mrs. Kirkland. As upset as he was at learning the truth, he is in too deep to skedaddle now. And things get much worse when a disillusioned and disappointed Toni Kirkland says she needs her husband's money - but wants him out of the way.

As others have noted, Apology for Murder is a low-rent Double Indemnity rip-off. It substitutes a newspaper office for an insurance office. It follows the original classic in so many ways that it becomes highly predictable. Overall, the movie is not bad as it moves at a brisk pace and keeps attention. Ann Savage is not quite as "savage" as she was in the classic Detour. Rather, she shows enough softness that we understand why Kenny is so entranced with her. However, Toni is a wicked piece of work and Savage is never at a loss to let loose with cinematic wickedness. Beaumont does well with the character of the romance-besotted man who reluctantly turns to evil. Other performers fill their roles in a satisfactory manner.

Apology for Murder is not a bad way to spend your time but it cannot get out from the shadow of Double Indemnity, a much better movie.

I too have seen this rather bad production and had a discussion with Anne Savage after. The film was shut down due to the larger, Paramount Pictures, who had just released Double Indemnity a year earlier. The story by James M Cain was actually based on a true story from the thirties. Appology was based on the actual story and not the Cain novel. Paramount wanted to sue the PRC studio because it felt that they stolen the story. This would have crippled the already small production house. And yes, while Double Indemnity is a much better movie, Apology is true to the real life story.