Manhandled (1949): Film Noir Crime Thriller

Manhandled is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by Lewis R. Foster and starring Dorothy Lamour, Sterling Hayden and Dan Duryea. It is based on the 1945 novel The Man Who Stole a Dream by L. S. Goldsmith.

Plot:
"Manhandled" is a tense film noir that weaves a story of deceit, obsession, and murder. The plot centers around Merl Kramer, a secretary working for a psychiatrist, Dr. Redman. She becomes entangled in a murder scheme when one of the doctor’s patients, the wealthy and disturbed Karl Benson, devises a plan to steal a fortune.
Benson is obsessed with a patient’s confession about dreaming of murdering her husband — and he decides to make that dream a reality. Using that confession, Benson frames others for the crime and begins covering his tracks, leading to a classic noir spiral of paranoia and misdirection.

As police investigate the brutal murder, suspicion falls on Merl, who must navigate a web of lies to prove her innocence. The tension escalates with each new revelation, pulling the audience deeper into a world of psychological manipulation and betrayal.

Cast:
Dorothy Lamour as Merl Kramer
Sterling Hayden as Joe Cooper
Dan Duryea as Karl Benson
Irene Hervey as Ruth, Mrs. Alton Bennet
Phillip Reed as Guy Bayard
Harold Vermilyea as Dr. Redman
Alan Napier as Alton Bennet
Art Smith as Detective Lt. Bill Dawson
Irving Bacon as Sgt. Fayle
Ian Wolfe as Charlie, a Fence
Maidie Norman as Christine, Bennet's Maid
James Edwards as Henry, Bennet's Butler
Ray Hyke as Phil Wilson, Detective
Morgan Farley as Doc, Police Lab Man
Keye Luke as Chinese Laundry Owner
George Humbert as Italian Restaurant Owner

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#GoldenAgeHollywood