One of the triumphs of Dore Schary's brief regime at RKO - he plasters his name on it - a tight, well done noir adapted from a Cornell Woolrich story. Woollrich provided the basis for many a strong noir - had a gift for great ideas, like this one: the boy who cried wolf, only it's a murder.
Bobby Driscoll is excellent as the kid, an only child who livens up his life with lying. Arthur Kennedy and Barbara Hale are his stressed out parents - in many ways this is a film of its time and place, with Kennedy working night shifts, and mom distracted, and dad locking the kid in his room.
Paul Stewart and Ruth Roman are the murderous neighbours. I liked Roman here, looking tired and seemingly without make up, more than I had in her other movies. It's well directed by Ted Tetzlaff, has a great semi documentary feel. I don't want to over praise it, it's a good, solid B but very well done.
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