Grand Central Murder
Encyclopedia
Grand Central Murder is a comedy
/mystery film
released in 1942
. It was based on Sue MacVeigh's 1939 novel of the same name, and stars Van Heflin
as a private investigator who is one of the suspects in a murder on a private train car in Grand Central Terminal
. The film was directed by S. Sylvan Simon
.
) is killed in a private train car on a siding in Grand Central Terminal in New York while trying to run away from her gangster ex-boyfriend Turk (Stephen McNally
), who's escaped from police custody. Police Inspector Gunther (Sam Levene
) assembles all the suspects, including wisecracking private detective "Rocky" Custer (Van Heflin
), and they all tell their stories. They include Turk; David (Mark Daniels), her rich boyfriend; the boyfriend's ex-fiancee, Connie (Cecilia Parker
) and her magnate father (Samuel S. Hinds
); Mida's spiritualist stepfather Ramon (Roman Bohnen
); her ex-husband Paul (George Lynn) and her producer Frankie (Tom Conway
). Also mixed in are Mida's maid, ex-burlesque singer Pearl Delroy (Connie Gilchrist
) and her daughter "Baby" (Betty Wells), Mida's understudy.
Cast notes
, in which Van Heflin played a similar part. Donna Reed
and Reginald Owen
were originally cast in the film, but were replaced. The film was in production at MGM's studios in Culver City, California
from 19 February to 13 March 1942, and premiered in New York City on 23 May of that year.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
/mystery film
Mystery film
Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...
released in 1942
1942 in film
The year 1942 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Casablanca.-Events:...
. It was based on Sue MacVeigh's 1939 novel of the same name, and stars Van Heflin
Van Heflin
Emmett Evan "Van" Heflin, Jr. was an American film and theatre actor. He played mostly character parts over the course of his film career, but during the 1940s had a string of roles as a leading man...
as a private investigator who is one of the suspects in a murder on a private train car in Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
. The film was directed by S. Sylvan Simon
S. Sylvan Simon
S. Sylvan Simon was an American stage/film director and producer. He began his film career at Warner Bros. in 1935, directing screen tests. In 1937, he moved to MGM, where he worked on the Marx Brothers' The Big Store, supervising many of the slapstick sequences...
.
Plot
Actress Mida King (Patricia DanePatricia Dane
Patricia Dane was an American film actress of the 1940s.Born "Thelma Pearl Pippins" and sometimes known as Thelma Byrnes after her step father in Jacksonville, Florida, she began her career designing clothes for a New York City dress firm. She was signed to an MGM contract in 1941 and is...
) is killed in a private train car on a siding in Grand Central Terminal in New York while trying to run away from her gangster ex-boyfriend Turk (Stephen McNally
Stephen McNally
Stephen McNally was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in many westerns and action films. He was an attorney in the late 1930s before pursuing a career in acting.-Career:...
), who's escaped from police custody. Police Inspector Gunther (Sam Levene
Sam Levene
Sam Levene was an American Broadway and film actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1927 with five lines in a play titled Wall Street, and over a span of nearly 50 years, appeared on Broadway in 37 Shows, of which 33 were the original Broadway Productions, many now considered legendary...
) assembles all the suspects, including wisecracking private detective "Rocky" Custer (Van Heflin
Van Heflin
Emmett Evan "Van" Heflin, Jr. was an American film and theatre actor. He played mostly character parts over the course of his film career, but during the 1940s had a string of roles as a leading man...
), and they all tell their stories. They include Turk; David (Mark Daniels), her rich boyfriend; the boyfriend's ex-fiancee, Connie (Cecilia Parker
Cecilia Parker
Cecilia Parker was a Canadian-born American film actress.-Early life and career:Born in Fort William, Ontario, she was brought to southern California as a child by her mother, Mrs. Naudy Anna Parker. Her father was an English soldier. Parker graduated from the Convent of the Immaculate Heart in...
) and her magnate father (Samuel S. Hinds
Samuel S. Hinds
Samuel Southey Hinds was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life and for his part in You Can't Take It With You , both films by Frank Capra...
); Mida's spiritualist stepfather Ramon (Roman Bohnen
Roman Bohnen
Roman Bohnen was a stage and film actor.Born Roman Aloys Bohnen in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bohnen attended the University of Minnesota, where he was a cheerleader. He cheered so vigorously that it changed his voice for the rest of his life. After graduating in 1923 with a B.A., Roman served his...
); her ex-husband Paul (George Lynn) and her producer Frankie (Tom Conway
Tom Conway
Tom Conway was a British film and radio actor, and elder brother of actor George Sanders.-Early life:...
). Also mixed in are Mida's maid, ex-burlesque singer Pearl Delroy (Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist was a stage, film and television character actress.Born Rose Constance Gilchrist in Brooklyn, New York...
) and her daughter "Baby" (Betty Wells), Mida's understudy.
Cast
 |
Van Heflin Van Heflin Emmett Evan "Van" Heflin, Jr. was an American film and theatre actor. He played mostly character parts over the course of his film career, but during the 1940s had a string of roles as a leading man... as "Rocky" Custer |
 |
Patricia Dane Patricia Dane Patricia Dane was an American film actress of the 1940s.Born "Thelma Pearl Pippins" and sometimes known as Thelma Byrnes after her step father in Jacksonville, Florida, she began her career designing clothes for a New York City dress firm. She was signed to an MGM contract in 1941 and is... as Mida King |
 |
Cecilia Parker Cecilia Parker Cecilia Parker was a Canadian-born American film actress.-Early life and career:Born in Fort William, Ontario, she was brought to southern California as a child by her mother, Mrs. Naudy Anna Parker. Her father was an English soldier. Parker graduated from the Convent of the Immaculate Heart in... as Constance Furness |
 |
Virginia Grey Virginia Grey Virginia Grey was an American actress.She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of director Ray Grey. One of her early babysitters was movie star Gloria Swanson. Grey debuted at the age of ten in the silent film Uncle Tom's Cabin as Little Eva... as Sue Custer |
 |
Samuel S. Hinds Samuel S. Hinds Samuel Southey Hinds was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life and for his part in You Can't Take It With You , both films by Frank Capra... as Roger Furness |
 |
Connie Gilchrist Connie Gilchrist Connie Gilchrist was a stage, film and television character actress.Born Rose Constance Gilchrist in Brooklyn, New York... as Pearl Delroy |
 |
Tom Conway Tom Conway Tom Conway was a British film and radio actor, and elder brother of actor George Sanders.-Early life:... as Frankie Ciro |
- Sam LeveneSam LeveneSam Levene was an American Broadway and film actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1927 with five lines in a play titled Wall Street, and over a span of nearly 50 years, appeared on Broadway in 37 Shows, of which 33 were the original Broadway Productions, many now considered legendary...
as Inspector Gunther - Mark Daniels as David V. Henderson
- Stephen McNallyStephen McNallyStephen McNally was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in many westerns and action films. He was an attorney in the late 1930s before pursuing a career in acting.-Career:...
as "Turk" - Betty Wells as "Baby" Delroy
- George Lynn as Paul Rinehart
- Roman Bohnen as Ramon
- Millard MitchellMillard MitchellMillard Mitchell was an American character actor whose credits include roughly thirty feature films and two television appearances....
as Detective Arthur Doolin
Cast notes
- Stephen McNally made his film debut in Grand Central Murder under the name "Horace McNally".
- Sam Levene, who was the original "Nathan Detroit" in Guys and Dolls on Broadway, often portrayed police investigators who played second-fiddle to private investigators. He performed that function several times in the Thin Man series.
Production
Grand Central Murder is a sequel of sorts to Kid Glove KillerKid Glove Killer
Kid Glove Killer is a 1942 crime film starring Van Heflin as a criminologist investigating the murder of a mayor. The B film was the feature-length directorial debut of Fred Zinnemann.-Cast:*Van Heflin as Gordon McKay*Marsha Hunt as Jane Mitchell...
, in which Van Heflin played a similar part. Donna Reed
Donna Reed
Donna Reed was an American film and television actress.With appearances in over 40 films, Reed received the 1953 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as the tramp Lorene in the war drama From Here to Eternity. She is also noted for her role in the perennial Christmas...
and Reginald Owen
Reginald Owen
John Reginald Owen was a British character actor. He was known for his many roles in British and American movies and later in television programs.-Personal:...
were originally cast in the film, but were replaced. The film was in production at MGM's studios in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
from 19 February to 13 March 1942, and premiered in New York City on 23 May of that year.