There is a lot here, in fact some of you may claim it is hard to follow. Here is some advice. Don't try. Just enjoy and when the final reveal springs, all (or most) will fall into place. Set in L.A., this Film Noir epic has the classic tropes, which we all love. A wise cracking and cynical Private Investigator, his fast talking secretary (Glenda Farrell), myriads of femme fatales...all very dangerous, and men who desire to rub out the P.I. and the dames. Also, the heavies in this film include Raymond Burr and John Ireland...neither one has patience for our private dick played by Franchot Tone. Our feature today is 1948's "I Love Trouble," directed by S. Sylvan Simon.
Stuart Bailey, P.I. (Tone) has a client, Mr. Johnson (Tom Powers), a balding middle-aged guy, who wants him to find his young wife played by...well...that's kind of what the mystery in this film is. Bailey sets off to find Mrs. Johnson, who is apparently a former showgirl or nightclub singer. He develops leads that indicate the missing babe may have a past that his client did not know about. This brings him to Keller's (Steven Geray) club, who inadvertently gives Bailey an important clue. Keller is a mob boss type character and sics his heavy, Reno (Ireland), on Bailey. Now Bailey finds a dame, and she's quite the dish, and her name is...well, that's not an easy one...but now we know her as Norma (Janet Blair). Norma is paranoid and immediately sees Bailey is following her. She claims she is not Mrs. Johnson, but her sister. Norma gives Bailey a bunch of lies, but she is quite the dish and may in fact be the runaway wife.
Tracing Mrs. Johnson's showgirl past, Bailey finds a weird restauranteur who will be murdered by Mrs. Johnson...whoever she is. She also meets the exotic Brazilian wife of another mob boss type, Ligia (Janis Carter). She is too eager to seduce Bailey and he is onto her. Oh, there's the blonde bathing beauty Boots Nestor (Adele Jergens) who...well...she's one of Keller's dolls and also is too eager to seduce Bailey. Norma keeps popping up ready to make-out, fix dinner, go on romantic dates, and kiss some more. Bailey enjoys her but it is apparent he keeps her close because he is beginning to decode her lies and deceptions. Uh oh...dames begin dying horribly and the police are suspecting Bailey is the killer.
Who is Mrs. Johnson and is she really missing? Is Norma the runaway wife, and if so what is her interest in Bailey? Will Bailey keep this case going as long as nubile and dangerous babes keep throwing themselves at him? The cheese factor in this film is magnificent and the thug factor is too. Mr. Tone is perfect for the role and he gives the aura of a Nick Charles type more than a Philip Marlowe or Mike Hammer type. Remember, don't try to study the events put before you on the silver screen, sit back, enjoy, and eventually it will click. See "I Love Trouble," and enjoy the femme fatale cavalcade.
Another fabulous review by Zisi Noir. I really enjoy reading these after watching the great films.
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