The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950)

Police Noir - The Man Who Cheated Himself review by Steve

Slight, low budget police noir which reprises the classic genre scenario of the guilty police inspector who must make inquiries into his own crime. That's Lee J. Cobb as the rugged, cynical homicide cop who covers up for his upmarket squeeze (Jane Wyatt) when she guns down her surplus husband.

The hangdog Lieutenant investigates with his newly appointed brother (John Dall). Who turns out to be far too precocious for comfort. Setting aside the improbability of making partners out of actual brothers, the actors make the familiar expert/novice dynamic engaging with their natural rapport.

The film gets criticised for casting Wyatt as the wealthy femme fatale, who may have set up her cop boyfriend to protect her from the murder rap. She usually played good-girl roles. But it works because it makes the privilege which camouflages her real intentions more convincing. Besides, she really was from that background.

Frank Feist was the quintessential journeyman director who inevitably ended up doing huge amounts of tv. This is his best film. The plot is farfetched but he keeps the story moving forward and makes a virtue of the meagre budget. And he gives his actors room. It's a minor B-noir, yet the formula succeeds again.