Enroute to a Hollywood party, Jane and Alan Palmer (Lizabeth Scott and Arthur Kennedy) have an argument, with Jane demanding that they skip the party and just go back home. As Alan turns the car around on the dark, nearly-isolated highway, an oncoming vehicle comes dangerously close to them, and as it overtakes them, a briefcase is thrown into their backseat. After discovering that the briefcase is loaded with cash, the Palmers realize the briefcase was inadvertently given to the wrong people and that it was actually meant for another vehicle...a vehicle which is now chasing them down the highway. Sure the money was probably a blackmail payoff, Alan insists they turn it over to the police; however, Jane, who wants to keep it, convinces Alan to wait a week or so before doing so. Alan reluctantly agrees, and he checks the briefcase at the train station. While she tells her husband that if he doesn't think they should keep the money, they won't, in reality, Jane has zero intention of giving the money up...ever.
The next day, a man named Danny Fuller (Dan Duryea) pays a visit to the Palmer apartment. Jane soon discovers that Danny was the intended recipient of the cash and that he had been the one who had chased them down the highway the night before. Tracking the Palmers through their license plate number, Mr. Fuller demands his cash. Realizing that Fuller might be of help to her, Jane decides to use him to her advantage.
With Danny as a decoy, Jane kills her husband, then proceeds to play the "worried wife" when he fails to return home that evening. Jane isn't home free with the money though. For one thing, she can't seem to locate the claim ticket for the briefcase, and Danny, who never wanted to get caught up in murder, continues to demand his cash. On top of that, Alan's sister, Kathy (Kristine Miller), and Don Blake, an old Army buddy of Alan's (Don DeFore), have gotten suspicious and are beginning to investigate.
Will Jane play fair with Danny? Will he play fair with her? Or will one of them double-cross the other? Will Kathy and Don get wise to the fact that Alan is dead? These are the questions which play out in this exciting noir.
Killer Bait is a wonderful, highly entertaining film. While it's not my favorite noir (Double Indemnity is), it is definitely high on my list of faves. Dan Duryea, always great in these "sleaze ball" roles, is totally wonderful here. Actually, I think he's the best thing about this film. He is appropriately hard, brutal, and commanding...yet he more than meets his match in Lizabeth Scott's femme fatale. As for Lizabeth Scott, I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of hers. I would have enjoyed another female lead here---perhaps Rita Hayworth or Lauren Bacall. Scott worked, though; I just don't overly care for her. All the other roles were fine, especially Kristine Miller as Alan's sister. I have never heard of her, but I do think she did a more than adequate job in her role.
This classic noir is easily a 4-star "really like it" film for me, and I highly recommend it. Since it is out on DVD, it ought to be fairly easy to track down. Plus, it is available in its entirety on YouTube. Hope you get a chance to see it.
Happy viewing!!
