Manhandled (1949) Dorothy Lamour, Sterling Hayden, Dan Duryea / American Film Noir Crime Film

Manhandled is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by Lewis R. Foster and starring Dorothy Lamour, Sterling Hayden and Dan Duryea. It is based on the 1945 novel The Man Who Stole a Dream by L. S. Goldsmith. Plot: "Manhandled" is a tense film noir that weaves a story of deceit, obsession, and murder. The plot centers around Merl Kramer, a secretary working for a psychiatrist, Dr. Redman. She becomes entangled in a murder scheme when one of the doctor’s patients, the wealthy and disturbed Karl Benson, devises a plan to steal a fortune. Benson is obsessed with a patient’s confession about dreaming of murdering her husband — and he decides to make that dream a reality. Using that confession, Benson frames others for the crime and begins covering his tracks, leading to a classic noir spiral of paranoia and misdirection. As police investigate the brutal murder, suspicion falls on Merl, who must navigate a web of lies to prove her innocence. The tension escalates with each new revelation, pulling the audience deeper into a world of psychological manipulation and betrayal. Cast: Dorothy Lamour as Merl Kramer Sterling Hayden as Joe Cooper Dan Duryea as Karl Benson Irene Hervey as Ruth, Mrs. Alton Bennet Phillip Reed as Guy Bayard Harold Vermilyea as Dr. Redman Alan Napier as Alton Bennet Art Smith as Detective Lt. Bill Dawson Irving Bacon as Sgt. Fayle Ian Wolfe as Charlie, a Fence Maidie Norman as Christine, Bennet's Maid James Edwards as Henry, Bennet's Butler Ray Hyke as Phil Wilson, Detective Morgan Farley as Doc, Police Lab Man Keye Luke as Chinese Laundry Owner George Humbert as Italian Restaurant Owner Hashtags: #Manhandled1949 #FilmNoir #DorothyLamour #DanDuryea #SterlingHayden #ClassicMystery #NoirThriller #BlackAndWhiteCinema #MurderMystery #GoldenAgeHollywood