Parolee Steve Carter (Stephen Dunne), who had been convicted of arson, gets out of prison determined to track down the person who really set the fire at the record company where he worked: Was it someone else who worked there, such as suspicious-seeming Carl Anson (George Meeker) or the owner’s goofy brother (Whit Bissell), who is fixated on a single folk song he wrote? Or was the culprit Goldie Harrigan (Robert Armstrong), the small-time hood who heads a rival company , and whose girlfriend, Inez (Adele Jergens), had an affair with Steve? Jane Darrin (Lois Maxwell), another worker at the record company whom Steve threw over for Inez, nevertheless has waited patiently for his release, and she turns to Dr. Ordway (Warner Baxter) for help in calming the young man down, as Steve was a former patient and he had recommended the parole. When a murder occurs at the record company, of course Steve is suspected, and it’s up to the Crime Doctor to clear his name. A solid mystery with a good twist, though experienced viewers may not find the murderer’s identity a surprise.

  Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 289 for 2021.