Murder Man Reviews

This was Tracy's first film for MGM, where he would find a home for the next twenty years. (It was also the film debut of James Stewart, whose future career would place him in the same superstar status as Tracy.) Tracy is a rugged newspaperman whose specialty is homicide. He's always ten steps ahead of the police in solving sensational killings. Though his somewhat jealous peers consider Tracy to be one of the most tenacious, clever, and knowing reporters around, his editor calls him a "crazy, cynical, drunken bum." He sleeps in elevators or may spend a night riding a merry-go-round, but he's indefatigable when it comes to his job, as fellow reporter Bruce knows; she's been in love with him for a long time and is always busy trying to reform him. Murder comes into Tracy's own life when crooked financier Stephens and his partner ruin Collier, Tracy's father, and cause the suicide of Tracy's estranged wife. He goes after the lethal con men with a vengeance, planning what he thinks is the perfect murder, killing Stephens' partner so that all the evidence points to Stephens, who is quickly tried, convicted, and condemned for the crime. Tracy visits Stephens in his death cell and gloats about taking vengeance, but his natural ideals and goodness overwhelm his bitter triumph; he cannot allow an innocent man to go to his death. Tracy confesses his guilt and accepts the inevitable punishment. Tracy is excellent in his role and Collier gives him good support in a brisk if predictable B melodrama. Stewart, playing a cub reporter sarcastically nicknamed "Shorty" because of his gangling stature, showed great promise and became lifelong friends with Tracy. Stewart was nervous before his first scene and Tracy told him: "Forget the camera is there." Tracy later recalled how "that was all he needed; in his very first scene he showed he had all the good things."