Big Town aka. Guilty Assignment (1947) starring Philip Reed, Hillary Brooke – based on the radio series of the same name, news exposing …
Big Town (aka. Guilty Assignment 1947) starring Philip Reed, Hillary Brooke
Big Town aka. Guilty Assignment (1947) starring Philip Reed, Hillary Brooke – based on the radio series of the same name, news exposing corruption at a variety of levels. Until the editor of the newspaper lets his desire for scooping his competitors and getting the “big story” get in the way of journalistic integrity.
The story begins with Steve Wilson (Philip Reed) coming into the “Big Town” as the new editor of a failing newspaper. On the way, the train he’s riding on derails! He phones the exclusive, first-hand report to the newspaper …. Which refuses to print it, since it’s too sensational! That changes quickly …
Soon he meets Lorelei Kilbourne (Hillary Brooke) who will become his star reporter, and Pete Ryan (Robert Lowery), photographer. Together, they turn the failing newspaper around, revealing various stories of intrigue and corruption, in three different smaller stories. But the last one changes things …
A young man looks guilty of murder — and he’s recently been released from a mental institution as well. Steve rushes the story to the sensational headlines, railroading the young man back into jail, after the police had released him for lack of evidence. And rather than return to the asylum, the man hangs himself in jail. And, he was totally innocent.
Steve, feeling appropriately guilty, is going to resign from the newspaper business totally. Unless Lorelei can talk him out of it, and put him back on the right road to being the crusading newspaperman that the big town needs.
Product Description
Big Town began as a radio series on CBS in 1937 starring Edward G. Robinson and Claire Trevor. It focused on the exploits of Steve Wilson, crusading newspaper editor of The Illustrated Press, and his star reporter (and love interest) Lorelei Kilbourne. With hard-hitting storylines pulled from the day’s headlines, Big Town became the highest-rated drama on radio (it was second only to The Jack Benny Show.) With such success on the airwaves, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood produced a big-screen version.
The first of four pictures based on the show, Big Town (a.k.a Guilty Assignment) stars Philip Reed as Wilson and Hillary Brooke as Lorelei (the actress had previously appeared in three of the Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes films, and would later become one of the regulars on The Abbott and Costello Show.) After telling the story of how Steve Wilson became editor of The Illustrated Press, the feature is broken down into four exciting tales based on the radio show’s most popular episodes. These include a grisly roller coaster murder and a mysterious ‘Vampire Killer’ who preys on the young women of the city.
A smash hit at the box-office, Big Town received its own issue of Movie Comics, leading to a regular series from DC (lasting from 1951 to 1958.) Coincidentally, co-star Robert Lowery is best known for playing the Caped Crusader in the serial Batman and Robin(1949).
Cast of characters
- Phillip Reed (Merrily We Live) … Steve Wilson
- Hillary Brooke (Sherlock Holmes: The Woman In Green; Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd) … Lorelei Kilbourne
- Robert Lowery (House of Horrors) … Pete Ryan
- Veda Ann Borg (Mildred Pierce) … Vivian LeRoy
- Byron Barr (Double Indemnity) … Vance Crane
- Charles Arnt (Christmas in Connecticut) … Amos Peabody
- Nana Bryant (Best Foot Forward) … Mrs. Crane
- Roy Gordon (Blondie Brings Up Baby) … Editor Post
- Eddie Parks … Gerald Meeker – Theater Cashier
- Nella Walker (Sabrina) … Mrs. Johannsen
- Thomas E. Jackson (Mystery of the Wax Museum) … Police Chief Berkley (as Thomas Jackson)
Additional cast
- Fred Aldrich … Cop (uncredited)
- Nora Cecil (I Married a Witch) … Miss Lovelace (uncredited)
- Wheaton Chambers … Witness (uncredited)
- Harry Cheshire … Police Chief Masters (uncredited)
- John Dehner (The Boys from Brazil) … Willard Erskine (uncredited)
- Ralph Dunn … Mac- Policeman (uncredited)
- Blake Edwards (The Great Race) … Nixon-Reporter (uncredited)
- Ben Erway (The Bishop’s Wife) … Harris (uncredited)
- Frank Fenton … Fletcher (uncredited)