- 7/3/2025
🚨 He was executed... but death couldn’t stop him. In Indestructible Man (1956), horror legend Lon Chaney Jr. stars as a vengeful convict resurrected by science—and out for blood in the streets of Los Angeles!
📽️ Plot Summary:
Charles "Butcher" Benton, a condemned killer, is betrayed by his lawyer and partners-in-crime. After his execution, a scientist’s experiment brings Benton back to life—stronger, invulnerable, and full of rage. Now indestructible, he embarks on a brutal revenge spree while being hunted by a determined detective.
🕰️ Year Released: 1956
🎭 Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Crime Thriller
🎬 Directed by: Jack Pollexfen
🎞️ Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Marian Carr, Ross Elliott
🎯 Why Watch It?
✔️ Cult classic mix of horror and crime noir
✔️ Lon Chaney Jr. in one of his most intense roles
✔️ Atomic-age science fiction meets gritty revenge tale
✔️ Public domain treasure with a unique tone
🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 | COMMENT 💬 | SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more public domain horror, crime, and sci-fi classics!
👇 Explore More Public Domain Movie Playlists Here:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYSxyPafGbnT7hNTlq29mZQJKn7wrNglY
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🎞️ #IndestructibleMan #LonChaneyJr #1950sSciFi #CultClassic #AtomicAgeCinema #PublicDomainMovies #RevengeThriller #ClassicHorror #SciFiNoir
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💀⚡ Murdered. Resurrected. Unstoppable. Indestructible Man is a relentless rampage through fear and revenge!
________________________________________
📽️ Plot Summary:
Charles "Butcher" Benton, a condemned killer, is betrayed by his lawyer and partners-in-crime. After his execution, a scientist’s experiment brings Benton back to life—stronger, invulnerable, and full of rage. Now indestructible, he embarks on a brutal revenge spree while being hunted by a determined detective.
🕰️ Year Released: 1956
🎭 Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Crime Thriller
🎬 Directed by: Jack Pollexfen
🎞️ Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Marian Carr, Ross Elliott
🎯 Why Watch It?
✔️ Cult classic mix of horror and crime noir
✔️ Lon Chaney Jr. in one of his most intense roles
✔️ Atomic-age science fiction meets gritty revenge tale
✔️ Public domain treasure with a unique tone
🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 | COMMENT 💬 | SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more public domain horror, crime, and sci-fi classics!
👇 Explore More Public Domain Movie Playlists Here:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYSxyPafGbnT7hNTlq29mZQJKn7wrNglY
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🎞️ #IndestructibleMan #LonChaneyJr #1950sSciFi #CultClassic #AtomicAgeCinema #PublicDomainMovies #RevengeThriller #ClassicHorror #SciFiNoir
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
💀⚡ Murdered. Resurrected. Unstoppable. Indestructible Man is a relentless rampage through fear and revenge!
________________________________________
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00THE END
00:00:30THE END
00:01:00THE END
00:01:06I was dictating the wrap-up on the Butcher Benton package.
00:01:10I'm Lieutenant Dick Chasen.
00:01:12This 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.
00:01:34Well, that's it, Butcher.
00:01:38The evidence against you was so strong the governor turned down your appeal.
00:01:41You're a rotten liar, Lowe.
00:01:43You started wrong, and now you're still trying to throw me curves.
00:01:48Look, I don't blame you for being edgy, but get this straight.
00:01:51I didn't double-cross you.
00:01:52I never worked harder for a client.
00:01:54You mean you never worked harder for a client to get him sentenced?
00:01:57You're a fool, Butcher.
00:02:00If you hadn't tried to double-cross Queenie Ellis and Joe Marcella,
00:02:03they wouldn't have turned state's evidence against you.
00:02:05But you had to get greedy.
00:02:07You wanted to keep the whole $600,000 for yourself.
00:02:10Well, the boys got sore, and I don't blame them.
00:02:13It was all your idea.
00:02:15You planned the whole job.
00:02:17You hired us.
00:02:18When you found out I'd staged the money,
00:02:20you decided it was time for me to die.
00:02:23You got those two crumbs to turn state's evidence on me.
00:02:25You stinking, rotten mouthpiece.
00:02:29We both know that isn't true, Butcher.
00:02:32Now, look, what's the sense of not giving me the money?
00:02:35It's not going to do you any good.
00:02:37Well, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing
00:02:40that none of you three crumbs are going to spend it.
00:02:42What about Eva?
00:02:44Don't you owe her something?
00:02:46You tell me where the money is, I'll see that she gets your share.
00:02:49I've got a different idea.
00:02:52I'm going to kill you and Squeamy and Joe.
00:02:54Then I'll take care of Eva myself.
00:02:58You sick-headed ape, you're going to die tomorrow.
00:03:04Remember what I said.
00:03:07I'm going to get you.
00:03:08All three of you.
00:03:11Even for you, Butcher, that'd be quite a trick.
00:03:15So long, dead man.
00:03:16Remember what I said.
00:03:21I'm going to kill you.
00:03:23All three of you.
00:03:24Back in Los Angeles, two men sat in a bar room listening to a newscaster tell his headline story.
00:03:45He played up big the Butcher's threat to kill Paul Lowe, Squeamy Ellis, and Joe Marcelli
00:03:50for their having turned state's evidence against him.
00:03:54Squeamy Ellis didn't seem happy over the Butcher's threat.
00:03:57Neither did Joe Marcelli.
00:03:59But they had figured, once a dead man, always a dead man.
00:04:03But this was one time everyone was in for a surprise, including the entire police department.
00:04:09You see the headlines, Captain?
00:04:29The teletite just came in from San Francisco.
00:04:32Butcher's execution is set for five o'clock this afternoon.
00:04:34And like the newspapers say, he still refuses to talk about that stolen money.
00:04:41Well, I still have hopes of coming up with something.
00:04:46That's what I dropped by for, Dick.
00:04:48With Butcher's execution, the department's marking it case closed.
00:04:51That means you'll be reassigned.
00:04:54I've spent a whole year trying to break this case.
00:04:57As far as I'm concerned, Butcher's death is just the beginning.
00:05:00Of course, I can't prove it, but I think that Paul Lowe was the top man.
00:05:06And even though I have to keep working on it while off duty,
00:05:09I'm going to get Lowe, Squeamy Ellis, and Joe Marcelli.
00:05:12Okay, Lieutenant.
00:05:13Officially, I've taken you off of the case.
00:05:16Unofficially, I wish you luck.
00:05:19Do me a favor.
00:05:20Keep me posted.
00:05:22Will do.
00:05:23Thanks, John.
00:05:24I headed for Eva Martin.
00:05:30She worked in a local burlesque house.
00:05:33I'm a cop, and my job is to ask questions and get answers.
00:05:37So I decided I might as well start again with her.
00:05:50Come in.
00:05:54What do you want?
00:05:57I'd like to talk to you.
00:05:59Talk?
00:06:00You're a cop, aren't you?
00:06:02That's a good question.
00:06:03I can't even find a three-ton armored car, let alone the $600,000.
00:06:07I've been on the case a year.
00:06:13I've told you, and I've told you, and I've told you.
00:06:15I don't know anything about the money.
00:06:16I never did.
00:06:17Benton's going to be dead in a little while.
00:06:19I thought it might make a difference.
00:06:20I never knew anything about the money.
00:06:22Call me dumb.
00:06:27I didn't even know Charles was in the rackets until the trial.
00:06:31Now, take it easy, kid.
00:06:32You're on, Eva.
00:06:33You're on, Eva.
00:06:33You're on, Eva.
00:06:34You're on, Eva.
00:06:35You're on, Eva.
00:06:35Let's go.
00:07:05Honey, here's your wrap.
00:07:35A few moments ago, Butcher Benton, without revealing the whereabouts of the $600,000 stolen in the armored car holdup, paid for his crimes against society in the gas chamber at San Quentin.
00:07:46Now for a look at the international scene.
00:07:48Today?
00:07:51Come on, baby.
00:07:53Don't waste tears on Benton.
00:07:55I feel so badly about Charles.
00:07:58If I'd known, maybe I could have done something.
00:08:02How about a drink?
00:08:03We could both use it.
00:08:04I just can't drink while she's working.
00:08:06Oh, I see.
00:08:20What's that?
00:08:22Well, now what's the matter?
00:08:25The message from Charles.
00:08:28He told me to open it.
00:08:30He died.
00:08:32Finale, Eva.
00:08:34All right.
00:08:38How about a steak after the show?
00:08:40No, thanks.
00:08:41Not tonight, Paul.
00:08:41I didn't find out until much later, but Paul Lowe, in opening the letter the butcher had given Eva, found a map outlining a section of the city sewer system.
00:09:01And clearly identified was the spot where the butcher had hidden the stolen payroll.
00:09:06He replaced it with a $50 bill.
00:09:09I guess he figured $50 to gain $600,000 was not a bad day's work.
00:09:13Two hundred miles away in San Francisco, the case took another switch, which turned the next 72 hours into one long, hideous nightmare.
00:09:29Dr. Bradshaw, a distinguished biochemist, was making preparations for a final experiment, which he hoped would lead the way to a cure for cancer.
00:09:40He'd been successful with laboratory animals.
00:09:43The last step called for a human body.
00:09:46And Dr. Bradshaw's assistant quickly made a deal with a local mortuary and returned to the laboratory with the dead body of Butcher Benton.
00:09:52You made good time.
00:10:03Well, I didn't waste any.
00:10:04Any trouble?
00:10:05No, I just handed the money over and moved the body into your station wagon.
00:10:08That was that.
00:10:09Good.
00:10:10Get a syringe.
00:10:17He's in good shape.
00:10:19Well, I hope so.
00:10:23We'll get other blood samples later.
00:10:25We'll run this one through fast.
00:10:26Right.
00:10:31Now wheel him into the machine and then raise him.
00:10:33Right.
00:10:33Right.
00:10:52Ready.
00:11:01You mean you're going to give him 287,000 volts?
00:11:05Yes, yes.
00:11:07I'll get the fluoroscope set.
00:11:08We'll check for that before we start dissecting.
00:11:11Turn off the lights.
00:11:12There you are, old boy.
00:11:25If you respond properly, and my theory is sound, you'll be more famous dead than alive.
00:11:31Throw the switch.
00:11:32There you are, old boy.
00:12:02Wait.
00:12:03I thought I saw a pulsation of the heart.
00:12:19You're right.
00:12:20Dr. Bradshaw, he's beginning to breathe.
00:12:25You've brought this man back to life.
00:12:27No, no, no, no.
00:12:28The heart muscle has simply responded to a terrific electrical shock, that's all.
00:12:34Yes, but it does prove that the cells still function.
00:12:39Dr. Bradshaw, he is alive.
00:12:42A shock reaction, it can't last.
00:12:45His cells are multiplying now, if your theory is right.
00:12:48We could keep that reaction going longer.
00:12:53But it's worth a try.
00:12:57Get the body out.
00:13:18Get some adrenaline from the supply room.
00:13:21It's an ML nitrite, too.
00:13:22Hurry, hurry.
00:13:23Let's go.
00:13:24Let's go.
00:13:25Let's go.
00:13:26Let's go.
00:13:26Let's go.
00:13:27Let's go.
00:13:28Let's go.
00:13:29Let's go.
00:13:30Let's go.
00:13:31Let's go.
00:13:32Let's go.
00:13:33Let's go.
00:13:34Let's go.
00:13:35Let's go.
00:13:38Let's go.
00:13:39Let's go.
00:13:40Let's go.
00:13:42Let's go.
00:13:42You must move your heart can't stand the strain.
00:14:12Now you must lie still, please, please. Easy now, easy, easy. You must lie, easy, please.
00:14:34Dr. Bradshaw's experiment had given life back to the butcher.
00:14:37He tried to talk, but the electrical voltage had burned out his vocal cords.
00:14:42Yet it hadn't destroyed his brain. He knew who he was. He knew who he hated.
00:14:48As he stumbled about the room, I think he thought only about one.
00:14:52Kill Low, Squeamy, and Joe Marcelli.
00:14:56The tremendous electrical voltage that Dr. Bradshaw had given the butcher had increased his cellular structure to the point where he was no longer a man.
00:15:04Dr. Bradshaw's experiment had created a vicious, brutal animal with an almost inconceivable amount of strength.
00:15:10Dr. Bradshaw must have believed the butcher's regained life would last for only a few minutes.
00:15:17Therefore, instead of calling for help, the doctor decided to handle his creation alone.
00:15:22Now, easy, Patton. Just relax. I'm a doctor. I want to try to help you. Do you understand me?
00:15:30You're in my laboratory. The execution was carried out and you were declared dead.
00:15:35I tried an experiment on you and brought you back to life, although I didn't intend that.
00:15:39Now, you've had a great shock. Now, come and sit down. Now, be quiet. Now, come and sit down.
00:15:45Take it easy. That's it, boy.
00:15:56Careful. His reactions are violent.
00:15:58How do you explain this?
00:15:59Each cell must have multiplied a hundred times, perhaps thousands. His strength is unbelievable.
00:16:05No, no, no. It's too late for the amyl nitrite.
00:16:08I want to get some blood samples, make some tests on him, find out what's happened.
00:16:12Now, get me a syringe.
00:16:15I want the needle penetrate the skin.
00:16:28The tissue must be nearly a solid mass of cells.
00:16:44How are we going to get the blood samples?
00:16:47Surgically, perhaps.
00:16:53Now, take it easy. You can't leave here now. I'm responsible for your being alive.
00:16:58Let's go!
00:16:592.
00:17:001.
00:17:012.
00:17:022.
00:17:032.
00:17:043.
00:17:051.
00:17:072.
00:17:082.
00:17:092.
00:17:102.
00:17:112.
00:17:122.
00:17:13THE END
00:17:43TOWARDS THE END OF THIS CASE, CAPTAIN LAUDER AND I FOUND OUT THE DOCTOR AND HIS ASSISTANT HAD BEEN MURDERED. BUT I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MY STORY. THE BUTCHER DIDN'T KNOW HOW HE HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD AND HE DIDN'T CARE. ALL HE KNEW, HE WAS ALIVE. THEN THIS MONSTER-MADE MAN STARTED THINKING ABOUT LOS ANGELES.
00:18:13THE END OF THIS CASE, CAPTAIN LAUDER AND HE WAS ALIVE.
00:18:20THE END OF THIS CASE.
00:18:27THE END OF THIS CASE.
00:18:29IN LOS ANGELES, I DECIDED TO STOP PLAYING DETECTIVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
00:18:34THE END OF THIS CASE.
00:18:36THE END OF THIS CASE.
00:18:37THE END OF THIS CASE.
00:18:38THE END OF THIS CASE.
00:18:39Butcher was dead and if I got lucky sooner or later, I figured Paul Lowe would lead me to the stolen payroll
00:18:46In a way that possibility made me even feel better
00:18:53It's not fair to watch the show from backstage next time I'll pay admission
00:18:57I take it by that remark. You like my routine. Yeah, you're pretty good
00:19:03What I can't figure out though is why you stay in a place like this
00:19:07It shouldn't be hard for someone like you to get a job in a class, but
00:19:12If you were a detective I'd be willing to bet with a line like that your next remark would be
00:19:16How about dinner well not exactly dinner, but a hamburger might be a good idea
00:19:22If you're asking in an official capacity, I can't say no I'm off duty
00:19:28For the past six months all I've ever called you is lieutenant Chasen. Do you have a first name?
00:19:34Dick
00:19:36Give me ten minutes for a quick change because you just made yourself a date lieutenant. I mean
00:19:52Know something there I
00:19:54Haven't had hamburger in the front seat of an automobile with a guy in a lot of years. Well from now on we'll do it more often
00:20:00I
00:20:04Always figured a policeman wasn't really a human being I mean unless he was arresting someone or trying to solve the case he was unhappy
00:20:12Shows you how wrong you are in fact everyone on the force gets fed up occasionally with the job they do
00:20:18Maybe we're more human than anyone else we see so much trouble we get to hate the word
00:20:27But as long as the world's filled with people have to be men who enforce the laws
00:20:31What made you join the department now who's making with the questions now?
00:20:38I'd like to know
00:20:40Well, it's really a very short story
00:20:44When I got out of the air corps I knocked around for a while
00:20:47Well, I went to work for an oil company
00:20:52One day I went back to college on the GI Bill just before graduation. I noticed all about the police department exams
00:21:00Seemed a pretty good thing to do with your life. So I took the exams
00:21:04Passed then went on from there
00:21:06If I ask one more question, would you give me a straight answer?
00:21:11Try it
00:21:13Am I still part of the Charles Benton investigation?
00:21:16I mean right now
00:21:19I don't think so
00:21:22As far as the department's concerned when Benton was executed the case was marked closed
00:21:28Inside of me that's not good enough
00:21:32I don't follow
00:21:33Well, the six hundred thousand dollars is still missing
00:21:36And a fast-talking underworld lawyer like Paul Lowe is walking around a free man
00:21:42Someday no matter how long it takes. I'll get him and the money
00:21:46Until I do the Benton case for me is not closed
00:21:50Give you my word digger Charles Benton never told me anything about the money
00:21:54Oh, I've been sure of that for a long time
00:21:58But how did you ever get mixed up with anyone like the butcher?
00:22:03This trouble ever started just happened
00:22:06I had a roommate who used to date Benton all the time
00:22:10One day she packed and left for Chicago
00:22:12Benton carried a torch for her and he used my shoulder to cry on
00:22:16First thing I knew we were having dinner together and a few weeks later
00:22:19I was labeled by the police as this number one suspect and and benton's girl
00:22:24But but it was never like that
00:22:25I made only one mistake I felt sorry for
00:22:29You mean until he was arrested for the robbery and the killing you had no idea how he earned a living
00:22:36I know this is going to sound crazy, but I only went out with benton a couple of times
00:22:41And all we ever talked about was madge my old roommate
00:22:44The last time I saw him he tried to get too friendly and that's when I told him he had the wrong girl
00:22:50But like I said, I already made my mistake
00:22:53What about the burlesque house how do you two fit together?
00:22:59You sound like a lot of other people
00:23:02I left a small town a couple of years ago because I won a beauty contest and the first prize was a screen
00:23:08Yes
00:23:10After which nothing happened that's right
00:23:14Only it was pretty rough
00:23:17And then one day I read an ad about girls wanted for a burlesque show I auditioned and I got the job
00:23:24You know something it's like any other job
00:23:28If you're looking for trouble you can find it even in a school room
00:23:32Well when the screen test didn't work out though, why didn't you go on home?
00:23:37Well first you have to have a home to go back to
00:23:39My folks are dead so Los Angeles was as good as anyplace else
00:23:45I don't know about you, but I do eight shows a day and at this hour I'm bushed
00:23:50I know what you mean
00:23:51Mind if I drive you home?
00:23:54No
00:23:55And I'll tell you something else
00:23:57I haven't minded anything about tonight
00:23:59Not even the hamburger
00:24:00I kept playing tag with low he made four telephone calls
00:24:08Three of them didn't interest me but one did the one to joe marcelli
00:24:14I watched joe head for his meeting with low and for some unknown reason
00:24:17I began to get the feeling that this case was finally about to explode in my favor
00:24:21I've seen him stack around two legs but he's doing it on four
00:24:35Shut up you fleabag
00:24:36Well look who's calling names
00:24:39Least I ate a squealer, a stooley
00:24:42I warned you before
00:24:44All right Harry that's enough I'll take care of him
00:24:46I want to talk to him
00:24:46Okay Mr. Low
00:24:48With any future business you've got with this psycho take care of it upstairs in your office
00:24:51He keeps showing around here sooner or later he's going to get slugged
00:24:54Crippled or no crippled
00:24:54All right shut up Joe sit down
00:24:56I need a shot bad
00:25:12You'll get one after I've talked to you
00:25:14You sober enough to understand
00:25:16Yeah I run out of dough
00:25:18No wonder look at you used to be the best torch man in town
00:25:22Now I don't think you could crack a safe if you knew the combination
00:25:25No jobs nobody wants me since I turned stakes on Benton
00:25:29That's your doing you told me all right quick cry
00:25:32I got a job for you
00:25:34If you can stay off that stuff long enough
00:25:35You know I can if I got a job
00:25:37How much what is it
00:25:40It's two grand in it for you
00:25:41Where right near where he pulled the job
00:25:44Interesting
00:25:46Two grand ain't much out of six hundred thousand
00:25:49We owe their expenses inside that money's plenty
00:25:52Now you want it or do I get another boy
00:25:55I'll do it
00:25:55How soon do you want me to go to work
00:25:57Set it up for tomorrow night
00:26:00Call me before noon I'm one of the races
00:26:04One
00:26:05That's all the little jobs over
00:26:24The butcher was walking slowly toward Los Angeles
00:26:42He'd traveled through wooded hills to prevent being seen by anyone
00:26:48Finally he came to a quiet road
00:26:50He stopped to get his bearings
00:26:53And then he saw her
00:26:54He saw something else
00:26:57An automobile
00:26:59For the butcher that rang a bell
00:27:01With a car he knew by the next afternoon he'd be in Los Angeles
00:27:05And plenty of time to catch up with the three men who had double-crossed him
00:27:08Well see you're a real gentleman to be helping strangers in the stretch
00:27:25I hope you don't mind me using the babe here as bait
00:27:28Quite a dish isn't she
00:27:29But that's what she gets paid for
00:27:31Bait that is
00:27:32Yes sir
00:27:32She's a real shaker artist in my outfit
00:27:34Carnival man myself
00:27:35Just call me Connie
00:27:37Yeah
00:27:39Well friend we're in a little bit of difficulty here
00:27:41Got a flat tire brand new car no tools in the back
00:27:44Why some of these dealers make my Carnival Grip
00:27:46This look like babes in the woods
00:28:07So Gil
00:28:12Holy
00:28:13Say who you with friend and let it down let it down
00:28:18No matter who you with friend believe me I can do better for both of us
00:28:22I'll make a fortune for the both of us
00:28:37An hour later the san francisco police department sent out an APB
00:28:48Squads were sent to various parts of the countryside
00:29:07The roadblocks were thrown up to catch the cold-blooded killer the hysterical girl had described
00:29:37Each squad kept reporting back to central headquarters and each of their stories was the same
00:29:43So far none of them had spotted the car the killer was driving
00:29:46Orders were given to shoot to kill because from the girls further accounts they realized they were dealing with a maniac
00:30:07That was a place to kill for the village
00:30:09So you could get out of here
00:30:10No, no, no, no, no
00:30:12No, no, I'm a fan
00:30:14But there ain't no
00:30:14No, no, no, no
00:30:17No, no, no
00:30:17No no, no, no
00:30:19No, no, no
00:30:20No, no, no
00:30:23No, no, no
00:30:23No, no, no
00:30:24No, no
00:30:25No, no, no
00:30:26No, no
00:30:29No, no
00:30:30No, no
00:30:32No
00:30:32No, no
00:30:33No, no
00:30:34No, no
00:30:35No, no
00:30:35THE END
00:31:05I trust that this information will answer all of your questions. If I can be of any further service, let me know. Sincerely, J.L. Lauder, Captain, Police, L.A.
00:31:18There's another all-point from CHP, Captain.
00:31:30These reports sound like they come from a bunch of loonies.
00:31:32You sure do. There it is.
00:31:35Sergeant.
00:31:36Yeah.
00:31:37I want Lieutenant Chasen to look these over as soon as he comes in.
00:31:39All right, Captain.
00:31:40The next morning I read the stories of the brutal murder of the two police officers.
00:31:49I also read the witness's statement about the bullets having no effect upon the killer.
00:31:57I felt sorry for the witness, and I thought about how easily a person's mind can become confused when suddenly they receive a brutal shock.
00:32:05I didn't believe a man existed who could not be stopped by a slug from a .45.
00:32:10Good morning, Captain.
00:32:15You and the rest of the force are going on 24-hour duty.
00:32:19Seen the headlines?
00:32:21You mean this guy that's running amok up north?
00:32:24Yeah, latest report, he's killed two police officers.
00:32:27Had to get away in a green coop heading south.
00:32:28I've got a hunch this killer is going to be our baby.
00:32:33He could be in town right now.
00:32:35Yeah.
00:32:36You better get started with that.
00:32:38Okay.
00:32:40Any new leads on that hold of money?
00:32:42I think the girl can probably be counted out.
00:32:45If any of the others are wise, they're keeping mighty quiet.
00:32:48Well, let it ride for now.
00:32:50The whole force is going to be on the spot until we catch this killer.
00:32:55Newspapers will have a field day.
00:32:56Okay.
00:32:58We were wrong about two things.
00:33:11The killer was already in our city, and we didn't know he was Butcher Benton.
00:33:15He headed straight for Eva Martin.
00:33:18He went to her dressing room to get back the map he had left in the envelope with her.
00:33:22He wanted first to check his money, then catch up with Lowe and the others.
00:33:28He can't be.
00:33:44But you...
00:33:46But you...
00:33:47You do look like...
00:33:49Any difference, somehow.
00:33:59It is you.
00:34:02Why didn't somebody tell me?
00:34:08What's happened, Charles?
00:34:11Those are like bullet holes.
00:34:13Are they?
00:34:19There's not even a mark.
00:34:50I opened it like you told me.
00:34:53I found the $50.
00:34:56I didn't know why you left him.
00:35:00Paul didn't know why he was here.
00:35:02Don't, don't, don't play crazy.
00:35:08The name of Paul triggered his hate.
00:35:11He left her dressing room and started for Squeamy Ellis and Joe Marcelli's place.
00:35:16Because he knew, with them out of the way, Paul Lowe couldn't open the strong door.
00:35:20The name of Paul triggered his hate.
00:35:23He left her dressing room and started for Squeamy Ellis and Joe Marcelli's place.
00:35:27Because he knew, with them out of the way, Paul Lowe couldn't open the strong box where the money was hidden.
00:35:33He thought of Squeamy and Joe first.
00:35:36He was saving Paul Lowe for last.
00:35:38He was saving Paul Lowe for last.
00:36:08Someone doesn't need to leave...
00:36:10How many days are you coming?
00:36:11How many days are we coming?
00:36:13What are you
00:36:34If you are, Eves, can I borrow your eyebrow pencil?
00:36:36Operator, Bettany Police Headquarters, Lieutenant Chasen please, when do you expect, tell him Charles
00:36:58Benton is alive, and even bullets can't stop him, I'm not crazy, just say a friend of Charles, he'll know, she tried to tell him the butcher was alive, and on his way over to kill him, Squeamy didn't believe her, and in a way you couldn't blame him, who in their right mind would believe a man had returned from the dead,
00:37:28What Squeamy actually believed was, that the butcher, before his execution, had hired a killer to carry out his threat
00:37:35You sick?
00:37:50What?
00:37:52You don't look so good to me
00:37:53Ten minutes, Eva
00:37:55All right
00:37:56Say, Eva, I could take over the matinate trick for you
00:38:00What?
00:38:02It's easy
00:38:03Look, Eva, I can do it
00:38:05Oh, I'm...
00:38:10Francine, I just thought of something
00:38:11Yeah?
00:38:13Eva agreed to let Francine do the show
00:38:15She hoped she'd be able to interrupt the butcher before he arrived at Squeamy's hotel
00:38:20Or failing that, at least be able to warn him to stay out of sight
00:38:25You wanted me, Captain?
00:38:28Yeah, I just had a run down on those fingerprints of the stolen car up north
00:38:34I got nothing on the driver who was killed or the woman with him
00:38:37Take a good look at these
00:38:40There's something funny about these
00:38:45Yeah
00:38:45And the boys in the lab can't figure it out, either
00:38:48Those are the killers
00:38:50They were found on the steering wheel
00:38:51Looked like they'd been stamped in with a steel die
00:38:55They sure do
00:38:55These are Butcher Benton's
00:39:01What?
00:39:04Well, they look the same to me
00:39:05How do the lab boys explain that?
00:39:07I don't
00:39:08Their best guess is a twin brother
00:39:10An identical twin could have the same pattern of worlds with only slight variations
00:39:16Ever hear of the butcher having a twin brother?
00:39:21No
00:39:21Even if he did, it wouldn't explain these freak prints
00:39:25You didn't pick up your message, Lieutenant
00:39:29Some wacky dame calls you
00:39:31And she says Charles Benton is alive
00:39:34And bullets won't stop him
00:39:36If we buy the twin theory
00:39:39Who was she?
00:39:41Where'd she seen?
00:39:41Well, she wouldn't leave her name
00:39:43Sounded kind of hysterical to me
00:39:44Said she was a friend of the butcher's
00:39:47Eva Martin
00:39:48Get her with the Follies and see what that girl knows
00:39:51Yeah
00:39:51Some guys have all the luck
00:39:56I never drew an assignment to the Follies
00:39:59Meanwhile, the butcher headed for Squeamy's hotel
00:40:09He didn't seem to be in any particular hurry
00:40:13Actually, he seemed like any normal person
00:40:16On his way to work
00:40:17Or on his way home
00:40:19He rode up Angel's flight
00:40:30Arrived at the top
00:40:32Scanned the hotel building
00:40:33And then noticed the only exit from Squeamy's apartment
00:40:36A fire escape
00:40:38We didn't see him
00:40:53Ha..
00:41:01THE END
00:41:31THE END
00:42:01THE END
00:42:31THE END
00:43:01THE END
00:43:31THE END
00:43:33THE END
00:43:37THE END
00:43:39THE END
00:43:41THE END
00:43:43THE END
00:43:45THE END
00:43:47THE END
00:43:49THE END
00:43:51THE END
00:43:53THE END
00:43:57THE END
00:43:59THE END
00:44:05THE END
00:44:07THE END
00:44:09THE END
00:44:15THE END
00:44:17THE END
00:44:19THE END
00:44:25THE END
00:44:27THE END
00:44:29THE END
00:44:35THE END
00:44:37THE END
00:44:39THE END
00:44:49THE END
00:44:51THE END
00:44:53THE END
00:45:03THE END
00:45:05THE END
00:45:07THE END
00:45:17THE END
00:45:19THE END
00:45:21THE END
00:45:31THE END
00:45:33THE END
00:45:35THE END
00:45:45THE END
00:45:47THE END
00:45:49THE END
00:45:59THE END
00:46:01THE END
00:46:03THE END
00:46:05THE END
00:46:09THE END
00:46:11THE END
00:46:12THE END
00:46:13THE END
00:46:14THE END
00:46:15THE END
00:46:16THE END
00:46:17THE END
00:46:18THE END
00:46:19THE END
00:46:20THE END
00:46:21THE END
00:46:22THE END
00:46:23THE END
00:46:24THE END
00:46:25THE END
00:46:26THE END
00:46:27THE END
00:46:28THE END
00:46:29THE END
00:46:30THE END
00:46:31THE END
00:46:32THE END
00:46:33THE END
00:46:34THE END
00:46:35THE END
00:46:36The End
00:47:06Operator, get me the police!
00:47:34Police!
00:47:35Police!
00:47:36Get in!
00:47:39What's happened?
00:47:53A guy named Squeamy got thrown from the fifth floor.
00:47:56He's dead on a mackerel.
00:47:58A customer of mine.
00:47:59You mean Squeamy, Alice?
00:48:00Yeah, that's it.
00:48:01Just Squeamy.
00:48:02No one else was killed.
00:48:03Ain't one enough.
00:48:04I tell you, the bullets never even phased him.
00:48:05He must have been wearing a bulletproof vest.
00:48:07God help us when the papers get a hold of this.
00:48:08Keep an officer on duty here until you hear from me.
00:48:09We're going to stake out on Joe Marcelli.
00:48:10I'd like to talk to Joe.
00:48:11I'd like to talk to Joe.
00:48:12Lord, I'm going to call San Quentin.
00:48:13Suppose Benton is alive.
00:48:14Every available man has been put on the case now.
00:48:15Yes, sir.
00:48:16All right.
00:48:17All right.
00:48:18All right.
00:48:19Anything new?
00:48:20Report on Dr. Bradshaw, owner of the station wagon.
00:48:21The San Francisco police located his laboratory in the basement of an electrical power-receiving
00:48:29station.
00:48:30Bradshaw?
00:48:31That's what I said.
00:48:32He's doing the right thing.
00:48:33Don't you think he's doing the right thing?
00:48:35All right.
00:48:36All right.
00:48:37Everything new?
00:48:38Report on Dr. Bradshaw, owner of the station wagon.
00:48:39The San Francisco police located his laboratory in the basement of an electrical power-receiving
00:48:48station. Bradshaw, what's he know? He's dead, and another man too, his assistant. The lab is a shambles.
00:48:54But now we're getting some action from San Francisco. Benton's body never arrived at the
00:48:59mortuary where it was supposed to go. An attendant there finally broke down, admitted he picked up
00:49:04some quick cash by handing the body over to a man he was unable to identify. The man was driving his
00:49:09station wagon. Blasted man, the chief's on my neck and the commissioners are on his and the mayor's
00:49:14on theirs. Now am I supposed to tell them that our killer is a dead man? They found a notebook in
00:49:20Bradshaw's lab. It ties his experiments in with a Professor Dwiggins at Cal Tech. I hope to hear
00:49:25from Dwiggins soon. Captain, report from the valley on a hysterical woman reports the presence of the
00:49:31killer. There's the location. Let's go.
00:49:44You and your boyfriend had a little fight, and he got out of the car to take a walk.
00:49:58You noticed that he walked down toward the sump area in the direction where you'd seen those
00:50:01lights a short while before. What happened then, miss? Please try to tell us. Well, I just
00:50:09sat there a few minutes, I guess. I was pretty mad. Then there was a loud crash, like, like heavy
00:50:18metal, sort of, from down here. I got out of the car to get a better look. I heard Jimmy cry out
00:50:26something. I couldn't make out the words. Then down here, in a patch of light, was Jimmy, and
00:50:36coming toward him was, was this man. Big man. Lifted Jimmy up over his head like, like he
00:50:48didn't weigh a thing. Jimmy screamed, just once, before he broke Jimmy's back. I heard it snap,
00:50:58that far away. Then I, I started running, but I found this house. They let me use the phone.
00:51:12Thank you, miss. We'll see that you get home right now.
00:51:18O'Malley, see that the young lady gets home already.
00:51:21Paul Lowe, while driving to his office, heard a radio commentator report the murder of Joe
00:51:29Marcelli. And what shocked him most was when the broadcast identified the killer as possibly
00:51:35being the butcher. Lowe headed straight for Eva Martin at the burlesque theater.
00:51:41Well, you gave me a start, Mr. Lowe. What are you doing here? Where's Eva? Oh, I'm taking her place.
00:51:46I'm going to wear a costume. What's it to you? I asked you, where's Eva? Hey, don't get physical.
00:51:53And watch your tone of voice, Buster. I told you, little Eva isn't here. I can see that for
00:51:58myself. Where is she? She's at police headquarters. That's where she is. Yes, sir.
00:52:07No, sir. Captain Lauder's still with the mayor. The killer dropped out of sight. He was last seen
00:52:12in the Hollywood area. Yes, sir. We know he's dangerous. Every angle's being covered. Yes,
00:52:20sir. I'll tell him.
00:52:42Here, see how these fit. Oh, low heels. I'm sorry. It's the best our wardrobe department
00:52:49can afford. Any idea how soon the captain will be back? Now, look, I'm going to see the captain.
00:53:00I'm going to have to wait here all night. Paul. Paul, Charles killed Squeamy and Joe. Joe, too?
00:53:11Benton? He's alive. I saw him, but nobody will believe me. I'm checking it. My guess is whoever
00:53:19killed them is on the trail of the money, Lowe. Now, maybe you'd better start talking if you know
00:53:22anything about it. I don't know anything. Did the butcher have a brother? No, no brother. It was
00:53:30Charles. I saw the tattoo on his arm. Look, I demand police protection. Where's the money, Lowe? You heard
00:53:39me. I demand protection. I know my rights. We put stakeouts on your office and home. Well, that's not
00:53:44enough. It's enough as far as we're concerned. Are you going to book me, Sergeant? Dan, throw
00:53:55away the key. Thank you. Come up with anything yet, Dick? Oh, we've checked every hotel, motel,
00:54:09and rooming house in town. We've run a cross-check on every hangout butcher ever used. Net results
00:54:14blank. This is incredible. We not only discover a dead man turned killer, but it's beginning to look
00:54:20like he plays ghost, too. He's somewhere in this city, and if we have to take it apart brick by brick,
00:54:27we've got to get him. I may be way off, but I think Paul Lowe could tell us a lot. Maybe. It's a
00:54:34sentence. He's not going to. Suppose he had no alternative. You better grab some coffee or mine's
00:54:40beginning to play tricks on you. No, now. Wait a minute. When Lowe came to us for police protection, it was
00:54:46because he was scared stiff the butcher would add him to the list of Squeamy Ellis and Joe Marcelli.
00:54:51Go on. It figures, too. When he slugged the sergeant, he knew we'd book him right away. Oh, this Lowe's a
00:54:57pretty cute character, but we can play the same game. You mean we'll threaten to release him? Well, not exactly.
00:55:02You tell him you realize that he was excited, that throwing the punch was accidental. Tell him
00:55:09we're not going to make a charge, that he's completely released. Lieutenant, you know we
00:55:13can't do that. Lowe made his first mistake when he hit the sergeant, and that'll get him a year.
00:55:17As far as the department's concerned, at least it's a small victory. If my hunch is right, Lowe won't want
00:55:23to be on the streets with the butcher looking for him, and he may talk and talk a lot. Enough maybe for
00:55:29us to get rid of him permanently, even lead us to the butcher. If he's frightened enough,
00:55:34that might work. But if it doesn't... No, Dick, I'm not going to release him. I want him out of my way
00:55:41so bad I can taste it, but not bad enough to be responsible for getting him killed. The good
00:55:46thing about that, Captain, is the fact we know it, but Lowe doesn't. Let's give it a try. All right, Lowe.
00:55:55Come on out. I think you'll find everything in there. You're free to go, Mr. Lowe. Wait a minute.
00:56:07Who do you think you're kidding? You arrested me for assaulting an officer. In court, I'll plead guilty.
00:56:14With luck, I might get off for six months. For a lawyer, you're forgetting a very important point.
00:56:20If no charge is made, there's no trial. It was a tough day for everyone. We figured your nerves
00:56:27were on edge, and when you threw the punch, you didn't know what you were doing. I've squared
00:56:31everything with the sergeant. It's all over, all forgotten. Yeah? Why'd you bring a stenographer?
00:56:37Simply because I wanted a record of our conversation at the time of your release.
00:56:40Okay, Lowe. Let's go. Wait a minute. What's that on those streets and I'm a dead man? If you let me go,
00:56:48you'll be responsible for murder. Don't come off it, Lowe. You're imagining things. You know the butcher
00:56:53threatened to kill me. You set me free, he'll do it. Well, that's just a risk we'll have to take. But the
00:56:59way I look at it, Mr. Lowe, you'll be okay. Look, Captain, I'll make a deal with you. You keep me here,
00:57:07and I'll tell you how to recover the money. Maybe even catch the butcher. No deals, Lowe. You'd probably
00:57:12tell us anything, just a stall for time. Come on, let's get out of here. Now, wait a minute.
00:57:20All right. I'll tell you the truth.
00:57:26Start taking this down.
00:57:27I, Paul Lowe, hired Butcher Benton, Squeamy Ellis, and Joe Macelli to pull off the armored car holdup.
00:57:44And then Lowe continued with his confession. He told us about finding the map. He showed us the exact
00:57:50location of where the butcher had hidden the stolen payroll. And he gave us a most important answer.
00:57:56The explanation as to how the butcher was able to elude detection.
00:58:00His means of escape was the sewer system that used our city.
00:58:03The department went to work fast. Every police squad in the city was detailed to cover a specific area.
00:58:22Every entrance and exit to the Los Angeles city sewer system of 700 miles was covered. Captain Lauder and I,
00:58:29along with several other squads, headed for the entrance where, according to the map, Butcher had
00:58:33hidden the money. Our job was to stop him. And that made me think of one specific question.
00:58:40When we found him, could this monster be stopped? I, for one, wasn't sure.
00:58:46Everything all set, Lieutenant?
00:58:58City engineers mapped out each possible exit. A squad of officers are spotted at every point.
00:59:15The butcher can be caught. Now's the time. Well, after I talked to Caltech, I called on the fire
00:59:19department for a little help. The professors thought a flamethrower might stop him.
00:59:23Flamethrower? I suppose their boys have had a chance to join our squads by now.
00:59:27See if we have one with us here. Have you thought about what'll happen if this doesn't work?
00:59:31No. I've been praying too hard that it will work.
01:00:01Flamethrower?
01:00:23Flamethrower?
01:00:25Flamethrower?
01:00:28Yeah.
01:02:29This map's right.
01:02:33We're off our course.
01:02:35We'll have to backtrack.
01:02:37We'll have to backtrack.
01:02:43We'll have to backtrack.
01:02:49We'll have to backtrack.
01:02:55We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:05We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:09We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:11We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:19We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:21We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:23We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:25We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:27We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:29We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:31We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:41We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:43We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:47We'll have to backtrack.
01:03:49I didn't have it.
01:04:19I didn't have it.
01:04:49I didn't have it.
01:05:19I didn't have it.
01:05:49I didn't have it.
01:06:19I didn't have it.
01:06:49I didn't have it.
01:07:19I didn't have it.
01:07:49I didn't have it.
01:08:11And the tremendous shock of electricity that brought the butcher back to life destroyed him.
01:08:16The $600,000 stolen in the armored truck robbery has been recovered.
01:08:20Case closed.
01:08:24Well, here are the scientists' comments for your records.
01:08:27I had to fill in a few spots with my own guesses, but I guess that's about the size of it.
01:08:32Did you get any sleep?
01:08:33Oh, some. Not much.
01:08:35How's the girl today?
01:08:36Well, they called the hospital about an hour ago. She'd gone.
01:08:39Gone? Where?
01:08:40She told them she was a working girl and that she'd been away from the job too long already.
01:08:45Quite a girl.
01:08:46Yeah.
01:08:47Say, how about that time off I've got coming?
01:08:5048 hours, beginning right now.
01:08:52Have some rest, Dick.
01:08:54You know something, Dick?
01:09:04The past 72 hours seemed like a bad dream.
01:09:09That rest in the hospital today really gave me a new lease on life.
01:09:13Now that it's over, I can't believe it actually happened.
01:09:18The important thing is to remember it is all over.
01:09:23I suppose you'll be assigned to another case.
01:09:26I'll have to give up hamburgers in the front seat of the car for steaks in a restaurant.
01:09:31No.
01:09:32I've thought about that.
01:09:34In fact, I decided to do something about it.
01:09:37I started by talking the captain into a short holiday.
01:09:40And just about an hour ago, I got you fired.
01:09:45What?
01:09:46What did you do that for?
01:09:49I figured that being my wife would take up all of your time.
01:09:56Even if I wanted to say no, I couldn't.
01:09:59You're not supposed to say no to a detective.
01:10:01I figured that too.
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