The Verdict (1946 film)

The Verdict is a 1946 film noir mystery drama directed by Don Siegel and written by Peter Milne, based on Israel Zangwills 1892 novel The Big Bow Mystery. It stars Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre in one of their nine film pairings, as well as Joan Lorring and George Coulouris. The Verdict was Siegels first fulllength feature film.

Soured by the turn of events, Grodman sets out to make Buckley look too inept to perform his new job. He enlists the aid of his macabre artist friend, Victor Emmric, and when a mysterious murder occurs, they realize their chance to ruin Buckley may have arrived.Bosley Crowther in The New York Times was unimpressed It is rather hard to figure just what the Warners saw in this antique mystery story other than roles for Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre. But even those are of slight consequence. ... Neither gentleman approaches his assignment with apparent satisfaction or zest. Mr. Greenstreet is puffier than usual, and Mr. Lorre more disinterested and wan. In the end, after various turns and skirmishes uninspiredly aimed to baffle and disturb, they both seem entirely willing to call quits. Variety wrote, Stock mystery tale with period background, The Verdict aims at generating suspense and thrills, succeeding modestly. ........

Source: Wikipedia