Indestructible Man (1956) is an American crime‑horror science‑fiction film directed and produced by Jack Pollexfen, from an original screenplay by Vy Russell and Sue Dwiggins. It stars Lon Chaney Jr. as Charles “Butcher” Benton, a violent criminal who is executed in the gas chamber — only to be resurrected by a scientific experiment involving massive electrical voltage. The procedure leaves him mute, monstrously strong, and nearly impervious to bullets, blades, and explosives.
Told in a noir‑style narrative set across Los Angeles, the film follows Benton as he embarks on a brutal revenge spree against the lawyer and henchmen who betrayed him. Meanwhile, police detective Dick Chasen races to stop the unstoppable killer as the city descends into fear. The film was distributed by Allied Artists Pictures and often screened on double bills with other mid‑1950s sci‑fi features.
Film Details
Title: Indestructible Man
Year: 1956
Genre: Crime / Horror / Science Fiction
Director: Jack Pollexfen
Writers: Vy Russell, Sue Dwiggins
Producer: Jack Pollexfen
Starring:
Lon Chaney Jr. as Charles “Butcher” Benton
Max Showalter (as Casey Adams) as Lt. Dick Chasen
Marian Carr as Eva Martin
Ross Elliott as Paul Lowe
Robert Shayne as Prof. Bradshaw
Cinematography: John L. Russell
Editing: Fred R. Feitshans Jr.
Music: Albert Glasser (uncredited)
Studio: C.G.K. Productions
Distributed by: Allied Artists Pictures
Release Date: March 25, 1956 (U.S.)
Runtime: 72 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
#IndestructibleMan1956 #LonChaneyJr #JackPollexfen #1950sHorror #SciFiNoir #CrimeHorror #ClassicCinema #AlliedArtists
Told in a noir‑style narrative set across Los Angeles, the film follows Benton as he embarks on a brutal revenge spree against the lawyer and henchmen who betrayed him. Meanwhile, police detective Dick Chasen races to stop the unstoppable killer as the city descends into fear. The film was distributed by Allied Artists Pictures and often screened on double bills with other mid‑1950s sci‑fi features.
Film Details
Title: Indestructible Man
Year: 1956
Genre: Crime / Horror / Science Fiction
Director: Jack Pollexfen
Writers: Vy Russell, Sue Dwiggins
Producer: Jack Pollexfen
Starring:
Lon Chaney Jr. as Charles “Butcher” Benton
Max Showalter (as Casey Adams) as Lt. Dick Chasen
Marian Carr as Eva Martin
Ross Elliott as Paul Lowe
Robert Shayne as Prof. Bradshaw
Cinematography: John L. Russell
Editing: Fred R. Feitshans Jr.
Music: Albert Glasser (uncredited)
Studio: C.G.K. Productions
Distributed by: Allied Artists Pictures
Release Date: March 25, 1956 (U.S.)
Runtime: 72 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
#IndestructibleMan1956 #LonChaneyJr #JackPollexfen #1950sHorror #SciFiNoir #CrimeHorror #ClassicCinema #AlliedArtists
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:00:42The End
00:01:06I was dictating the wrap-up on the Butcher Benton package.
00:01:10I'm Lieutenant Dick Chason.
00:01:13This hadn't been a routine case,
00:01:15and to find the answer, I've had to put a lot of little pieces together.
00:01:19It began on the day most cases can be called closed.
00:01:23It was the day before the Butcher was to be executed.
00:01:26He was visited by his attorney, Paul Lowe, in the death house.
00:01:30It was at this first meeting the Butcher Benton case took its first switch.
00:01:36Well, that's it, Butcher.
00:01:38The evidence against you was so strong that the governor turned down your appeal.
00:01:42You're a rotten liar, Lowe.
00:01:44You started railroading me from the beginning of the trial,
00:01:47and now you're still trying to throw me curves.
00:01:50Look, I don't blame you for being edgy, but get this straight.
00:01:53I didn't double-cross you.
00:01:55I never worked harder for a client.
00:01:56You mean you never worked harder for a client to get him sentenced?
00:02:00You're a fool, Butcher.
00:02:03If you hadn't tried to double-cross Squeamy Ellis and Joe Marcello,
00:02:06they wouldn't have turned state's evidence against you.
00:02:08But you had to get greedy.
00:02:10You wanted to keep the whole $600,000 for yourself.
00:02:13Well, the boys got sore, and I don't blame them.
00:02:15It was all your idea.
00:02:17You planned the whole job.
00:02:19You hired us.
00:02:20When you found out I'd stage the money,
00:02:22you decided it was time for me to die.
00:02:25You got those two crumbs to turn state's evidence on me.
00:02:29You stinking, rotten mouthpiece.
00:02:31We both know that isn't true, Butcher.
00:02:34Now, look, what's the sense of not giving me the money?
00:02:37It's not gonna do you any good.
00:02:40Well, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing
00:02:42that none of you three crumbs are gonna spend it.
00:02:45What about Eva?
00:02:46Don't you owe her something?
00:02:48You tell me where the money is, I'll see that she gets your share.
00:02:52I've got a different idea.
00:02:54I'm gonna kill you and Squeamy and Joe.
00:02:58Then I'll take care of Eva myself.
00:03:00You sick-headed ape, you're gonna die tomorrow.
00:03:07Remember what I said.
00:03:09I'm gonna get you, all three of you.
00:03:14Even for you, Butcher, that'd be quite a trick.
00:03:17So long, dead man.
00:03:21Remember what I said.
00:03:24I'm gonna kill you.
00:03:26All three of you.
00:03:47I'm gonna kill you, all three of you.
00:03:53For their having turned state's evidence against him.
00:03:56Squeamy Ellis didn't seem happy over the Butcher's threat.
00:04:00Neither did Joe Marcelli.
00:04:01But they had figured, once a dead man, always a dead man.
00:04:05But this was one time everyone was in for a surprise, including the entire police department.
00:04:29You see the headlines, Captain?
00:04:31The teletite just came in from San Francisco.
00:04:34Butcher's execution is set for five o'clock this afternoon.
00:04:38And, like the newspapers say, he still refuses to.
00:04:41to talk about that stolen money.
00:04:44Well, I still have hopes of coming up with something.
00:04:48That's what I dropped by for, Dick.
00:04:50With Butcher's execution,
00:04:52the department's marking it case closed.
00:04:53That means you'll be reassigned.
00:04:57I've spent a whole year trying to break this case.
00:04:59As far as I'm concerned,
00:05:01Butcher's death is just the beginning.
00:05:03Of course, I can't prove it,
00:05:05but I think that Paul Lowe was the top man.
00:05:08And even though I have to keep working on it while off duty,
00:05:11I'm going to get Lowe, Squeamy Ellis, and Joe Marcelli.
00:05:15Okay, Lieutenant.
00:05:16Officially, I've taken you off of the case.
00:05:19Unofficially, I wish you luck.
00:05:21Do me a favor.
00:05:23Keep me posted.
00:05:24Will do.
00:05:26Thanks, John.
00:05:30I headed for Eva Martin.
00:05:32She worked in a local burlesque house.
00:05:36I'm a cop, and my job is to ask questions and get answers.
00:05:40So I decided I might as well start again with her.
00:05:53Come in.
00:05:57Oh.
00:05:59What do you want?
00:06:00I'd like to talk to you.
00:06:02Talk?
00:06:03You're a cop, aren't you?
00:06:05That's a good question.
00:06:06I can't even find a three-ton armored car,
00:06:09let alone the $600,000.
00:06:11And I've been on the case a year.
00:06:16I've told you, and I've told you, and I've told you.
00:06:18I don't know anything about the money.
00:06:20I never did.
00:06:20Benton's going to be dead in a little while.
00:06:22I thought it might make a difference.
00:06:23I never knew anything about the money.
00:06:28Call me dumb.
00:06:30I didn't even know Charles was in the rackets until the trial.
00:06:33Now, take it easy, kid.
00:06:36You're on, Eva.
00:06:37You're not.
00:06:41You're on.
00:06:54You're on.
00:06:56You're on.
00:07:17Honey, here's your wrap.
00:07:39A few moments ago, Butcher Benton, without revealing the whereabouts of the $600,000 stolen in the armored car holdup,
00:07:45paid for his crimes against society in the gas chamber at San Quentin.
00:07:49Now for a look at the international scene.
00:07:52Today...
00:07:54Come on, baby.
00:07:56Don't waste tears on Benton.
00:07:58I feel so badly about Charles.
00:08:02If I'd known, maybe I could have done something.
00:08:05How about a drink? We could both use one.
00:08:08No, I just can't drink while she's working.
00:08:10Oh, I see.
00:08:23What's that?
00:08:25Well, now what's the matter?
00:08:28It's a message from Charles. He told me to open it if he died.
00:08:35Finale, Eva.
00:08:37All right.
00:08:41How about a steak after the show?
00:08:54I didn't find out until much later, but Paul Lowe, in opening the letter the butcher had given Eva, found
00:09:01a map outlining a section of the city sewer system.
00:09:03And clearly identified was the spot where the butcher had hidden the stolen payroll.
00:09:08He replaced it with a $50 bill.
00:09:11He replaced it with a $50 bill.
00:09:12I guess he figured $50 to gain $600,000 was not a bad day's work.
00:09:24And a few hundred miles away in San Francisco, the case took another switch, which turned the next 72 hours
00:09:31into one long hideous nightmare.
00:09:33Dr. Bradshaw, a distinguished biochemist, was making preparations for a final experiment which he hoped would lead the way to
00:09:41a cure for cancer.
00:09:42He'd been successful with laboratory evidence.
00:09:45The last step called for a human body.
00:09:48And Dr. Bradshaw's assistant quickly made a deal with a local mortuary and returned to the laboratory with the dead
00:09:54body of Butcher Benton.
00:10:05You made good time.
00:10:06Well, I didn't waste any.
00:10:07Any trouble?
00:10:08No.
00:10:08I just handed the money over and moved the body into your station wagon.
00:10:12That was that.
00:10:12Good.
00:10:13Get a syringe.
00:10:21He's in good shape.
00:10:22Well, I hope so.
00:10:26We'll get other blood samples later.
00:10:28We'll run this one through fast.
00:10:29Right.
00:10:34Now wheel him into the machine and then raise him.
00:10:36Right.
00:11:04Ready?
00:11:05You mean you're gonna' give them 287,000 volts?
00:11:08Yes, yes.
00:11:10I'll get the fluoroscope set.
00:11:11We'll check with that before we start dissecting.
00:11:14Turn off the lights.
00:11:25there you are old boy if you respond properly and my theory is sound
00:11:30you'll be more famous dead than alive throw the switch
00:11:50so
00:11:57so
00:11:58so
00:12:00so
00:12:17Wait, wait, I thought I saw a pulsation of the heart.
00:12:22You're right.
00:12:25Dr. Bradshaw, he's beginning to breathe.
00:12:28You've brought this man back to life.
00:12:30No, no, no, no, no.
00:12:32The heart muscle has simply responded to a terrific electrical shock, that's all.
00:12:37Yes, but it does prove that the cells still function.
00:12:42Dr. Bradshaw, he is alive.
00:12:45The shock reaction, it can't last.
00:12:48His cells are multiplying now, if your theory is right.
00:12:52We could keep that reaction going longer.
00:12:57But it's worth a try.
00:13:00Get the body out.
00:13:22Get some adrenaline from the supply room.
00:13:24It's an amyl nitrite, too.
00:13:25Hurry, hurry.
00:13:26Hurry.
00:13:27Hurry.
00:13:40Well, first, you can't just...
00:13:41We can't do it.
00:13:41Oh, my God.
00:13:41Come on.
00:13:43Come on.
00:13:44Come on.
00:13:45Come on.
00:13:55Come on.
00:14:10You must move. Your heart can't stand the strain. Now you must lie still. Please, please. Easy now. Easy. Easy.
00:14:23You must lie. Easy. Please.
00:14:25Oh! Oh!
00:14:37Dr. Bradshaw's experiment had given life back to the butcher. He tried to talk, but the electrical voltage had burned
00:14:44out his vocal cords. Yet it hadn't destroyed his brain. He knew who he was. He knew who he hated.
00:14:51As he stumbled about the room, I think he thought only about one. Kill Low, Squeamy, and Joe Marcelli.
00:15:00The tremendous electrical voltage that Dr. Bradshaw had given the butcher had increased his cellular structure to the point where
00:15:06he was no longer a man.
00:15:08Dr. Bradshaw's experiment had created a vicious, brutal animal with an almost inconceivable amount of strength.
00:15:15Dr. Bradshaw must have believed the butcher's regained life would last for only a few minutes.
00:15:21Therefore, instead of calling for help, the doctor decided to handle his creation alone.
00:15:27Now, easy, Patton. Just relax.
00:15:30I'm a doctor. I want to try to help you. Do you understand me? You're in my laboratory.
00:15:36The execution was carried out, and you were declared dead.
00:15:39I tried an experiment on you and brought you back to life, although I didn't intend that.
00:15:44Now, you've had a great shock. Now, come and sit down. Be quiet. Now, come and sit down.
00:15:49Take it easy.
00:15:51That's the boy.
00:15:52That's the boy.
00:16:00Careful. His reactions are violent.
00:16:02How do you explain this?
00:16:03Each cell must have multiplied a hundred times, perhaps thousands.
00:16:07His strength is unbelievable.
00:16:09No, no, no. It's too late for the amyl nitrite.
00:16:12I want to get some blood samples, make some tests on him, find out what's happened.
00:16:16Get me a syringe.
00:16:41Why won't the needle penetrate the skin?
00:16:44Tissue must be nearly a solid mass of cells.
00:16:48How are we going to get the blood samples?
00:16:51Surgically, perhaps.
00:16:57Now, easy, Patton. Take it easy.
00:16:59You can't leave here now. I'm responsible for your being alive.
00:17:31Now, I can't leave here.
00:17:56Towards the end of this case, Captain Lauder and I found out the doctor and his assistant
00:18:00had been murdered, but I'm getting ahead of my story. The butcher didn't know how he had been
00:18:06brought back from the dead and he didn't care. All he knew, he was alive. Then this monster-made
00:18:14man started thinking about Los Angeles.
00:18:32On that very night back in Los Angeles, I decided to stop playing detective for a little
00:18:38while. I went to the burlesque house to ask Eva to have dinner with me. After all, the
00:18:43butcher was dead and if I got lucky, sooner or later I figured Paul Lowe would lead me
00:18:48to the stolen payroll. In a way, that possibility made me even feel better.
00:18:57It's not fair to watch the show from backstage. Next time I'll pay admission.
00:19:02I take it by that remark you like my routine. Yeah, you're pretty good. What I can't figure
00:19:08out though is why you stay in a place like this. It shouldn't be hard for someone like
00:19:14you to get a job in a class spot. If you weren't a detective, I'd be willing to bet with
00:19:19a line
00:19:19like that your next remark would be, how about dinner? Well, not exactly dinner, but a hamburger
00:19:25might be a good idea. If you're asking in an official capacity, I can't say no. I'm off
00:19:32duty. For the past six months, all I've ever called you is Lieutenant Chasen. Do you have
00:19:37a first name? Dick. Give me ten minutes for a quick change because you just made yourself
00:19:46a date, Lieutenant. I mean, Dick. You know something, Dick? I haven't had hamburger in the front seat
00:20:00of an automobile with a guy in a lot of years. Well, from now on, we'll do it more often.
00:20:07It's funny. I always figured a policeman wasn't really a human being. I mean, unless he was arresting
00:20:14someone or trying to solve a case, he was unhappy. Shows you how wrong you are. In fact, everyone
00:20:20on the force gets fed up occasionally with the job they do. Maybe we're more human than anyone
00:20:26else. We see so much trouble we get to hate the world. But as long as the world's filled
00:20:33with people, they'll have to be men who enforce the laws. What made you join the department?
00:20:40Now who's making with the questions? No, Honest, I'd like to know. Well, it's really a very short
00:20:47story. When I got out of the Air Corps, I knocked around for a while. Well, I went to
00:20:54work for an oil company. One day, I went back to college on the GI Bill. Just before graduation,
00:21:01I noticed all about the police department exams. It seemed a pretty good thing to do with your
00:21:06life. So I took the exams, passed, then went on from there. If I ask one more question, would you
00:21:15give me a straight answer? Try me. Am I still part of the Charles Benton investigation? I mean, right
00:21:22now? I don't think so. As far as the department's concerned, when Benton was executed, the case was
00:21:31marked closed. But inside of me, that's not good enough. I don't follow you. Well, the
00:21:38$600,000 is still missing. And a fast-talking underworld lawyer like Paul Lowe is walking
00:21:44around a free man. Someday, no matter how long it takes, I'll get him and the money. Until
00:21:51I do, the Benton case for me is not closed. I'll give you my word, Dick. Charles Benton never
00:21:57told me anything about the money. Oh, I've been sure of that for a long time. But how
00:22:04did you ever get mixed up with anyone like the butcher? This trouble ever started just
00:22:09happened. I had a roommate who used to date Benton all the time. One day, she packed and
00:22:15left for Chicago. Benton carried a torch for her, and he used my shoulder to cry on. First
00:22:21thing I knew, we were having dinner together. And a few weeks later, I was labeled by the police
00:22:26as this number one suspect and Benton's girl. But it was never like that. I made only one
00:22:32mistake I felt sorry for. You mean, until he was arrested for the robbery and the killing,
00:22:38you had no idea how he earned a living? I know this is going to sound crazy, but I only
00:22:44went
00:22:44out with Benton a couple of times. And all we ever talked about was Madge, my old roommate.
00:22:49The last time I saw him, he tried to get too friendly, and that's when I told him he had
00:22:54the wrong girl. But like I said, I'd already made my mistake. What about the burlesque
00:23:00house? How do you two fit together? You sound like a lot of other people. I left a small
00:23:07town a couple of years ago because I won a beauty contest, and the first prize was a screen
00:23:12test. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. After which nothing happened? That's right. Only, uh, it was
00:23:20pretty rough. And then one day I read an ad about girls wanted for a burlesque show. I auditioned,
00:23:27and I got the job. You know something? It's like any other job. If you're looking for trouble,
00:23:33you can find it even in a school room. Well, when the screen test didn't work out, though,
00:23:40why didn't you go on home? Well, first you have to have a home to go back to. My folks
00:23:45are dead, so Los Angeles was as good as any place else. I don't know about you, but I
00:23:51do eight shows a day, and at this hour I'm bushed. I know what you mean. Mind if I drive
00:23:57you home? No. And I'll tell you something else. I haven't minded anything about tonight.
00:24:04Not even the hamburger.
00:24:09I kept playing tag with Lowe. He made four telephone calls. Three of them didn't interest
00:24:15me, but one did. The one to Joe Marcelli. I watched Joe head for his meeting with Lowe,
00:24:21and for some unknown reason I began to get the feeling that this case was finally about
00:24:25to explode in my favor.
00:24:31You see what I mean? Well, look at that over here. I've seen him stack around two legs,
00:24:39but he's doing it on four. Shut up, you fleabag. Well, look who's calling names.
00:24:44At least I ain't a squealer, a stoolie. I warned you before. All right, Harry, that's
00:24:50enough. I'll take care of him. I want to talk to him. Okay, Mr. Lowe. With any future business
00:24:54you've got with this psycho, take care of it upstairs in your office. He keeps showing around
00:24:58here. Sooner or later he's going to get slugged, crippled or no crippled. All right,
00:25:00shut up, Jim. Sit down.
00:25:15I need a shot. Bad. You'll get one after I've talked to you. You sober enough to understand?
00:25:21Yeah. I run out of dough. No wonder. Look at you. You used to be the best torch man in
00:25:27town.
00:25:28How? I don't think you could crack a safe if you knew the combination. No jobs. Nobody
00:25:32wants me since I turned stakes on Benton. That's your doing. You talk me into it. All right,
00:25:36quit crying. I got a job for you. If you can stay off that stuff long enough. You know I
00:25:41can
00:25:41get a job. How much? What is it? It's two grand in it for you. Where? Right
00:25:48near where he pulled a job. Interested? Two grand ain't much out of 600,000. The other
00:25:54expenses. Aside that money's plenty of it. Now, you want it or do I get another boy? I'll
00:26:00do it. How soon do you want me to go to work? Set it up for tomorrow night. Call me
00:26:06before
00:26:06noon and I'm one of the races. One. And that's all the jobs open.
00:26:46The butcher was walking slowly toward Los Angeles. He traveled through wooded hills to prevent
00:26:53being seen by anyone. Finally, he came to a quiet road. He stopped to get his bearings. And
00:27:01then he saw her. He saw something else. An automobile. For the butcher, that rang a bell. With
00:27:09a car, he knew by the next afternoon he'd be in Los Angeles and plenty of time to catch
00:27:14up with the three men who had double-crossed him.
00:27:29Well, see, you're a real gentleman to be helping strangers in distress. I hope you don't mind
00:27:33me using the babe here as bait. Quite a dish, isn't she? But that's what she gets paid for.
00:27:37Bait, that is. Yes, sir. She's a real shaker artist in my outfit. Carnival
00:27:41Gryptus. Just call me Connie. Yeah. Well, friend, we're in a little bit of difficulty here.
00:27:47Got a flat tire, brand new car, no tools in the back. Why, some of these dealers make my
00:27:51Carnival Gryptus look like babes in the woods.
00:28:17Some kill Hoolie. Say, who you with, friend? Let it down. Let it down. No matter who you
00:28:25with, friend, believe me, I can do better for both of us. I'll make a fortune for the both
00:28:29of us. An hour later, the San Francisco Police Department sent out an APB. Squads were sent to various parts
00:28:57of the countryside.
00:28:57All right.
00:29:28All right.
00:29:38Roadblocks were thrown up to catch the cold-blooded killer the hysterical girl had described. Each squad kept reporting back
00:29:45to central headquarters, and each of their stories was the same. So far, none of them had spotted the car
00:29:51the killer was driving. Orders were given to shoot to kill. Because from the girls' further accounts, they realized it
00:29:57was the same.
00:29:57They realized they were dealing with a maniac.
00:30:11Well, look.
00:30:19Ah!
00:30:21Ah!
00:31:15I trust that this information will answer all of your questions.
00:31:18If I can be of any further service, let me know.
00:31:22Sincerely, J.I. Louder, Captain Police, L.A.
00:31:25Another all-point, some CHP, Captain.
00:31:37These reports sound like they come from a bunch of loonies.
00:31:39They sure do. There it is.
00:31:42Sergeant.
00:31:42Yeah.
00:31:43I want Lieutenant Chasen to look these over as soon as he comes in.
00:31:46All right, Captain.
00:31:51The next morning, I read the stories of the brutal murder of the two police officers.
00:31:56I also read the witness's statement about the bullets having no effect upon the killer.
00:32:03I felt sorry for the witness, and I thought about how easily a person's mind can become confused when suddenly
00:32:10they receive a brutal shock.
00:32:12I didn't believe a man existed who could not be stopped by a slug from a .45.
00:32:19Good morning, Captain.
00:32:21You and the rest of the force are going on 24-hour duty.
00:32:26Seen the headlines?
00:32:27You mean this guy that's running amok up north?
00:32:30Well, the latest report, he's killed two police officers, made a getaway in a green coop heading south.
00:32:37I've got a hunch this killer's going to be our baby.
00:32:39He could be in town right now.
00:32:41Yeah.
00:32:43You better get started, Lieutenant.
00:32:44Okay.
00:32:47Any new leads on that hold-up, Mike?
00:32:49I think the girl can probably be counted out.
00:32:51If any of the others are wise, they're keeping mighty quiet.
00:32:55Let it ride for now.
00:32:57The whole force is going to be on the spot until we catch this killer.
00:33:01Newspapers will have a field day.
00:33:15We were wrong about two things.
00:33:17The killer was already in our city, and we didn't know he was Butcher Benton.
00:33:22He headed straight for Eva Martin.
00:33:24He went to her dressing room to get back the map he had left in the envelope with her.
00:33:29He wanted first to check his money, then catch up with Lowe and the others.
00:33:39He was right.
00:33:47Can't be.
00:33:52But you...
00:33:54You do look like him.
00:33:57Very different somehow.
00:34:06It is you.
00:34:09Why didn't somebody tell me?
00:34:15What's happened, Charlotte?
00:34:18Those look like bullet holes.
00:34:20Are they?
00:34:26There isn't even a mark.
00:34:58I opened it like you told me.
00:35:00I found the $50.
00:35:05I didn't know why you left him.
00:35:08Paul didn't know why he was here.
00:35:25Don't, don't, don't play crazy.
00:35:30The name of Paul triggered his hate.
00:35:33He left her dressing room and started for Squeamy Ellis and Joe Marcelli's place.
00:35:38Because he knew with them out of the way, Paul Lowe couldn't open the strong box where the money was
00:35:42hidden.
00:35:43He thought of Squeamy and Joe first.
00:35:46He was saving Paul Lowe for last.
00:35:49He was just.
00:36:18He was saving Paul Lowe for last.
00:36:18That's right.
00:36:43Hey, Eva, can I borrow your eyebrow pencil?
00:36:51Operator, get me police headquarters.
00:36:56Lieutenant Chasen, please.
00:37:01When do you expect him?
00:37:06Tell him Charles Benton is alive, and even bullets can't stop him.
00:37:12I'm not crazy.
00:37:17Just say a friend of Charles, he'll know.
00:37:31After leaving a message for me, Eva telephoned Squeamy Ellis.
00:37:35She tried to tell him the butcher was alive, and on his way over to kill him.
00:37:40Squeamy didn't believe her, and in a way you couldn't blame him.
00:37:43Who in their right mind would believe a man had returned from the dead?
00:37:48What Squeamy actually believed was that the butcher, before his execution, had hired a killer to carry out his threat.
00:38:08You sick?
00:38:10What? You don't look so good to me.
00:38:13Ten minutes, Eva.
00:38:15All right.
00:38:16Say, Eva, I could take over the matinate trick for you.
00:38:20What?
00:38:21It's easy.
00:38:22Look, Eva, I can do it.
00:38:24Scub-a-de-do-de-do.
00:38:26Oh.
00:38:28I'm...
00:38:29Francine, I just thought of something.
00:38:31Yeah?
00:38:32Eva agreed to let Francine do the show.
00:38:35She hoped she'd be able to interrupt the butcher before he arrived at Squeamy's hotel.
00:38:40Or, failing that, at least be able to warn him to stay out of sight.
00:38:47You wanted me, Captain?
00:38:50Yeah, I just had a rundown on those fingerprints of the stolen car up north.
00:38:53I got nothing on the driver who was killed or the woman with him.
00:38:58Take a good look at these.
00:39:03There's something funny about these.
00:39:04Yeah.
00:39:05And the boys in the lab can't figure it out, either.
00:39:08Those are the killers.
00:39:09They were found on the steering wheel.
00:39:11Looked like they'd been stamped in with a steel die.
00:39:14They sure do.
00:39:19These are Butcher Benton's.
00:39:21What?
00:39:23They look the same to me.
00:39:25How do the lab boys explain that?
00:39:27I don't.
00:39:28Their best guess is a twin brother.
00:39:30An identical twin could have the same pattern of whorls with only slight variations.
00:39:38Ever hear of the Butcher having a twin brother?
00:39:40No.
00:39:42Even if he did, it wouldn't explain these freak prints.
00:39:47You didn't pick up your message, Lieutenant.
00:39:49Some wacky dame calls you.
00:39:51And she says Charles Benton is alive.
00:39:53And bullets won't stop him.
00:39:57If we buy the twin theory...
00:39:59Who was she?
00:40:00Where'd she seen?
00:40:00Well, she wouldn't leave her name.
00:40:02Sounded kind of hysterical to me.
00:40:04Said she was a friend of the Butcher's.
00:40:07Eva Martin.
00:40:08Get her with the Follies and see what that girl knows.
00:40:10Yeah.
00:40:14Some guys have all the luck.
00:40:16I never drew an assignment to the Follies.
00:40:26Meanwhile, the Butcher headed for Squeamy's hotel.
00:40:29He didn't seem to be in any particular hurry.
00:40:33Actually, he seemed like any normal person.
00:40:35On his way to work or on his way home.
00:40:48He rode up Angel's flight.
00:40:50Arrived at the top.
00:40:52Scanned the hotel building.
00:40:53And then noticed the only exit from Squeamy's apartment.
00:40:56A fire escape.
00:41:24Where'd someone get us?
00:41:48Holmes!
00:41:48With a fire at her,
00:41:55Oh, my God.
00:42:27Oh, my God.
00:42:51Oh, my God.
00:43:18Oh, my God.
00:43:48Oh, my God.
00:44:44Oh, my God.
00:45:10Oh, my God.
00:45:11Oh, my God.
00:45:11Oh, my God.
00:45:12Oh, my God.
00:45:23Oh, my God.
00:45:25Oh, my God.
00:45:36Oh, my God.
00:45:45Oh, my God.
00:45:51Oh, my God.
00:45:53Oh, my God.
00:45:54Oh, my God.
00:45:58Oh, my God.
00:46:09Oh, my God.
00:46:18Oh, my God.
00:46:24Oh, my God.
00:46:25Oh, my God.
00:46:26Oh, my God.
00:46:54I don't know.
00:46:58Let's go.
00:47:28Let's go.
00:48:13Let's go.
00:48:13What's happened?
00:48:14A guy named Squeamy got thrown from the fifth floor.
00:48:17He's deader than a mackerel.
00:48:18Customer of mine.
00:48:20You mean Squeamy, Ellis?
00:48:21Yeah, that's it.
00:48:22Just Squeamy.
00:48:23No one else was killed.
00:48:24Ain't one enough?
00:48:36I tell you, the bullets never even fazed him.
00:48:38He must have been wearing a bulletproof vest.
00:48:42You've got to help us when the papers get a hold of this.
00:48:45Keep an officer on duty here until you hear from me.
00:48:47We'll get a stakeout on Joe Martelli.
00:48:49I'd like to talk to Joe.
00:48:51Lauder, I'm going to call San Quentin.
00:48:53Suppose Benton is alive.
00:48:54Every available man's been put on the case now.
00:48:57Yes, sir.
00:48:58All right.
00:48:59All right.
00:49:00Anything new?
00:49:01Report on Dr. Bradshaw, owner of the station wagon.
00:49:04The San Francisco police located his laboratory in the basement of an electrical power receiving station.
00:49:08Bradshaw, what's he know?
00:49:09He's dead.
00:49:10And another man, too.
00:49:11His assistant.
00:49:12The lab is a shambles.
00:49:14But now we're getting some action from San Francisco.
00:49:17Benton's body never arrived at the mortuary where it was supposed to go.
00:49:21An attendant there finally broke down, admitted he picked up some quick cash by handing the body over to a
00:49:26man he was unable to identify.
00:49:28The man was driving his station wagon.
00:49:31Blasted man.
00:49:32The chief's on my neck and the commissioners are on his and the mayor's on theirs.
00:49:35Now, am I supposed to tell him that our killer is a dead man?
00:49:39They found a notebook in Bradshaw's lab.
00:49:41It ties his experiments in with a Professor Dwiggins at Cal Tech.
00:49:45I hope to hear from Dwiggins soon.
00:49:48Captain, report from the valley on a hysterical woman.
00:49:50Reports the presence of the killer.
00:49:52There's the location.
00:49:54Let's go.
00:50:13You and your boyfriend had a little fight and he got out of the car to take a walk.
00:50:18You noticed that he walked down toward the sump area in the direction where you'd seen those lights a short
00:50:22while before.
00:50:24What happened then, miss?
00:50:25Please try to tell us.
00:50:28Well, I just sat there.
00:50:31A few minutes, I guess.
00:50:33I was pretty mad.
00:50:35Then there was a loud crash, like heavy metal, sort of, from down here.
00:50:42I got out of the car to get a better look.
00:50:45I heard Jimmy cry out something.
00:50:47I couldn't make out the words.
00:50:51Then down here, in a patch of light, was Jimmy.
00:50:56And coming toward him was this man.
00:51:02Big man.
00:51:04Lifted Jimmy up over his head like he didn't weigh a thing.
00:51:10Jimmy screamed just once before he broke Jimmy's back.
00:51:17I heard it snap that far away.
00:51:21Then I started running until I found this house.
00:51:26They let me use the phone.
00:51:32Thank you, miss.
00:51:34We'll see that you get home right now.
00:51:39O'Malley, see that the young lady gets home already.
00:51:45Paul Lowe, while driving to his office, heard a radio commentator report the murder of Joe Marcelli.
00:51:51And what shocked him most was when the broadcast identified the killer as possibly being the butcher.
00:51:57Lowe headed straight for Eva Martin at the burlesque theater.
00:52:02You gave me a start, Mr. Lowe.
00:52:04What are you doing here?
00:52:05Where's Eva?
00:52:05Oh, I'm taking her place.
00:52:07I'm going to wear her costumes.
00:52:08What's it to you?
00:52:09I asked you, where's Eva?
00:52:11Hey, don't get physical.
00:52:13Well, watch your tone of voice, Buster.
00:52:15I told you.
00:52:16Little Eva isn't here.
00:52:18I can see that for myself.
00:52:19Where is she?
00:52:21She's at the police headquarters.
00:52:23That's where she is.
00:52:25Yes, sir.
00:52:27No, sir.
00:52:28Captain Lauder is still with the mayor.
00:52:30The killer dropped out of sight.
00:52:32He was last seen in the Hollywood area.
00:52:35Yes, sir.
00:52:36We know he's dangerous.
00:52:38Every angle is being covered.
00:52:41Yes, sir.
00:52:41I'll tell him.
00:53:02Here, see how these fit.
00:53:05Low heels.
00:53:07I'm sorry.
00:53:08It's the best our wardrobe department can afford.
00:53:13Any idea how soon the captain will be back?
00:53:19Now, look.
00:53:20I'm going to see the captain.
00:53:21I've got to wait here all night.
00:53:22Paul.
00:53:25Paul.
00:53:26Charles killed Squeemy and Joe.
00:53:29Joe, too?
00:53:32Benton?
00:53:33He's alive.
00:53:34I saw him, but nobody will believe me.
00:53:37I'm checking it.
00:53:38My guess is whoever killed them is on the trail of the money low.
00:53:41Now, maybe you better start talking if you know anything about it.
00:53:44I don't know anything.
00:53:45Did the butcher have a brother?
00:53:49No, no, brother.
00:53:50It was Charles.
00:53:52I saw the tattoo on his arm.
00:53:57Look, I demand police protection.
00:53:58Where's the money low?
00:53:59You heard me.
00:54:00I demand protection.
00:54:01I know my rights.
00:54:01We put stakeouts on your office and home.
00:54:03Well, that's not enough.
00:54:05It's enough as far as we're concerned.
00:54:12Wait.
00:54:13Now you're going to book me, Sergeant?
00:54:15Don't dare and throw away the key.
00:54:26Come up with anything yet, Dick?
00:54:28Oh, we've checked every hotel, motel, and rooming house in town.
00:54:31We've run a cross-check on every hangout butcher ever used.
00:54:34Net results, blank.
00:54:36This is incredible.
00:54:38We not only discover a dead man turned killer,
00:54:40but it's beginning to look like he plays ghost, too.
00:54:44He's somewhere in this city,
00:54:45and if we have to take it apart brick by brick,
00:54:48we've got to get him.
00:54:49I may be way off,
00:54:51but I think Paul Lowe could tell us a lot.
00:54:53Maybe.
00:54:54But it's a cinch he's not going to.
00:54:57Suppose he had no alternative.
00:54:59You better grab some coffee.
00:55:00Your mind's beginning to play tricks on you.
00:55:02Lowe, now, wait a minute.
00:55:04When Lowe came to us for police protection,
00:55:06it was because he was scared stiff
00:55:08the butcher would add him to the list of Squeamy Ellis and Joe Marcelli.
00:55:11Go on.
00:55:12It figures, too.
00:55:14When he slugged the sergeant,
00:55:15he knew we'd book him right away.
00:55:16Oh, this Lowe's a pretty cute character.
00:55:19But we can play the same game.
00:55:21You mean we'll threaten to release him?
00:55:22Well, not exactly.
00:55:24You tell him you realize that he was excited,
00:55:27that throwing the punch was accidental.
00:55:29Tell him we're not going to make a charge,
00:55:31that he's completely released.
00:55:32Lieutenant, you know we can't do that.
00:55:34Lowe made his first mistake when he hit the sergeant,
00:55:36and that'll get him a year.
00:55:37As far as the department's concerned,
00:55:39at least it's a small victory.
00:55:41If my hunch is right,
00:55:43Lowe won't want to be on the streets
00:55:45with the butcher looking for him.
00:55:46And he may talk, and talk a lot.
00:55:49Enough, maybe, for us to get rid of him permanently.
00:55:51Even lead us to the butcher.
00:55:53If he's frightened enough, that might work.
00:55:57But if it doesn't...
00:55:59No, Dick, I'm not going to release him.
00:56:01I want him out of my way so bad I can taste it,
00:56:03but not bad enough to be responsible for getting him killed.
00:56:06The good thing about that, Captain,
00:56:08is the fact we know it.
00:56:10But Lowe doesn't.
00:56:12Let's give it a try.
00:56:14All right, Lowe.
00:56:15Come on out.
00:56:19I think you'll find everything in there.
00:56:23You're free to go, Mr. Lowe.
00:56:27Wait a minute.
00:56:28Who do you think you're kidding?
00:56:30You arrested me for assaulting an officer.
00:56:33Court, I'll plead guilty.
00:56:34With luck, I might get off for six months.
00:56:38For a lawyer, you're forgetting a very important point.
00:56:41If no charge is made, there's no trial.
00:56:44It was a tough day for everyone.
00:56:46We figured your nerves were on edge,
00:56:47and when you threw the punch,
00:56:48you didn't know what you were doing.
00:56:50I've squared everything with the sergeant.
00:56:52It's all over, all forgotten.
00:56:54Yeah?
00:56:55Why'd you bring your stenographer?
00:56:57Simply because I wanted a record of our conversation
00:56:59at the time of your release.
00:57:02Okay, Lowe.
00:57:03Let's go.
00:57:03Oh, wait a minute.
00:57:05What's that on those streets?
00:57:06And I'm a dead man.
00:57:07If you let me go, you'll be responsible for murder.
00:57:10Oh, come off it, Lowe.
00:57:11You're imagining things.
00:57:12You know the butcher threatened to kill me.
00:57:14You set me free, he'll do it.
00:57:16Well, that's just a risk we'll have to take.
00:57:19But the way I look at it, Mr. Lowe,
00:57:21you'll be okay.
00:57:23Look, Captain, I'll make a deal with you.
00:57:26You keep me here,
00:57:27and I'll tell you how to recover the money.
00:57:28Maybe even catch the butcher.
00:57:30No deals, Lowe.
00:57:31You'd probably tell us anything,
00:57:32just to stall for time.
00:57:34Come on, let's get out of here.
00:57:35Now, wait a minute.
00:57:39All right.
00:57:42I'll tell you the truth.
00:57:45Let's start taking this down.
00:57:51I, Paul Lowe,
00:57:54hired Butcher Benton,
00:57:57Squeamy Ellis, and Joe Maselli
00:57:58to pull off the armored car holdup.
00:58:03And then Lowe continued with his confession.
00:58:05He told us about finding the map.
00:58:07He showed us the exact location
00:58:09of where the butcher had hidden the stolen payroll.
00:58:12And he gave us a most important answer.
00:58:15The explanation as to how the butcher
00:58:17was able to elude detection.
00:58:19His means of escape was the sewer system
00:58:21that used our city.
00:58:34The department went to work fast.
00:58:37Every police squad in the city
00:58:38was detailed to cover a specific area.
00:58:41Every entrance and exit
00:58:42to the Los Angeles city sewer system
00:58:44of 700 miles was covered.
00:58:47Captain Lauder and I,
00:58:48along with several other squads,
00:58:50headed for the entrance where,
00:58:51according to the map,
00:58:52Butcher had hidden the money.
00:58:54Our job was to stop him.
00:58:55And that made me think
00:58:57of one specific question.
00:58:59When we found him,
00:59:00could this monster be stopped?
00:59:02I, for one, wasn't sure.
00:59:27Everything all set, Lieutenant?
00:59:28City engineers mapped out
00:59:30each possible exit.
00:59:31A squad of officers are spotted
00:59:32at every point.
00:59:33If the butcher can be caught,
00:59:35now's the time.
00:59:36Well, after I talked to Caltech,
00:59:37I called on the fire department
00:59:38for a little help.
00:59:39The professors thought
00:59:40a flamethrower might stop him.
00:59:42Flamethrower?
00:59:43I suppose their boys
00:59:44have had a chance
00:59:44to join our squads by now.
00:59:46See, we have one with us here.
00:59:48Have you thought about
00:59:48what'll happen
00:59:49if this doesn't work?
00:59:51No.
00:59:52I've been praying too hard
00:59:53that it will work.
00:59:59Oh, thank you.
01:01:45This is where we split up.
01:01:46Go straight ahead.
01:02:19Go straight ahead.
01:02:49If this map's right, we're off our course.
01:02:52We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:24We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:54We'll have to backtrack.
01:04:11Hold it, Switzer.
01:04:13I didn't have it.
01:04:16We'll have to backtrack.
01:04:46We'll have to backtrack.
01:05:14We'll have to backtrack.
01:05:43We'll have to backtrack.
01:06:11We'll have to backtrack.
01:06:40We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:05We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:05We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:16We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:22We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:32We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:38We'll have to backtrack.
01:07:40We'll have to backtrack.
01:08:02We'll have to backtrack.
01:08:10We'll have to backtrack.
01:08:27And the tremendous shock of electricity that brought the butcher back to life destroyed him.
01:08:32The $600,000 stolen in the armored truck robbery has been recovered.
01:08:37Case closed.
01:08:41Well, here are the scientists' comments for your records.
01:08:43I had to fill in a few spots with my own guesses, but I guess that's about the size of
01:08:48it.
01:08:48Did you get any sleep?
01:08:49Oh, some.
01:08:50Not much.
01:08:51How's the girl today?
01:08:53Well, I called the hospital about an hour ago.
01:08:55She'd gone.
01:08:55Gone?
01:08:56Where?
01:08:56She told him she was a working girl and that she'd been away from the job too long already.
01:09:01Quite a girl.
01:09:02Yeah.
01:09:04Say, how about that time off I've got coming?
01:09:0748 hours, beginning right now.
01:09:09Let's rest, Nick.
01:09:19You know something, Dick?
01:09:21The past 72 hours seemed like a bad dream.
01:09:26That rest in the hospital today really gave me a new lease on life.
01:09:30Now that it's over, I can't believe it actually happened.
01:09:35The important thing is to remember it is all over.
01:09:40I suppose you'll be assigned to another case.
01:09:42I'll have to give up hamburgers in the front seat of the car for steaks in a restaurant.
01:09:48No.
01:09:49I've thought about that.
01:09:51In fact, I decided to do something about it.
01:09:53I started by talking the captain into a short holiday.
01:09:57And just about an hour ago, I got you fired.
01:10:02What?
01:10:04What did you do that for?
01:10:06I figured that being my wife would take up all of your time.
01:10:11Yeah.
01:10:12Even if I wanted to say no, I couldn't.
01:10:15You're not supposed to say no to a detective.
01:10:18I figured that too.
01:10:19You're not supposed to.
01:10:21You're not supposed to.
01:10:30Maybe your wife would take them to a hotel.
01:10:30You're not supposed to.
01:10:30This is a cold switch.
01:10:31You're supposed to take a free time and run out of your time.
Comments