Main Cast: Jeanne Crain, Jean Peters, Elliott Reid, Richard Boone, Casey Adams
Release Year: 1953
Country: US
Run Time: 85 minutes
Plot
Although a few character names and minor details are different, Vicki is a fairly faithful remake of the 1941 murder melodrama I Wake Up Screaming. The title character, Vicki Lynn, played by Jean Peters, is a waitress who is transformed into a top fashion model by press agent Steve Christopher (Elliot Reid). When Vicki is murdered, psychotic detective Ed Cornell (Richard Boone) tries to pin the blame on Christopher. In fact, Cornell knows who the real killer is, but he was so desperately (and hopelessly) in love with the dead girl that he intends to railroad Christopher into the electric chair. With the help of Vicki's sister (Jeanne Crain), Christopher tracks down the genuine culprit and exposes Cornell for the nutcase that he is. Featured in the cast is future TV producer Aaron Spelling. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Since Vicki is a surprisingly faithful remake of I Wake Up Screaming (at least in terms of the screenplay), it's surprising that it's a fairly forgettable movie. The difference is in the cast and the director, and it's crucial. Victor Mature and Betty Grable in Screaming invested their roles with star power and surprisingly strong acting chops (something one couldn't always say about these actors). Given the same roles (and much of the same dialogue) in Vicki, Elliott Reid and Jeanne Crain simply don't measure up. Reid is a total featherweight, unable to give the part anything more than a surface reading -- and he's annoying into the bargain. Crain was never a particularly distinguished actress; given careful handling by an attentive director, she could turn in a solid performance, but in Vicki she's just going through the motions. Most damaging, however, is Richard Boone, in a role that Laird Cregar made instantly memorable. Boone can't compare to Cregar; he's powerful (certainly more so than his co-stars), but he's obvious and eventually irritating. He doesn't supply menace so much as an overbearing presence. Director Harry Horner should have helped him, but Horner didn't seem to be interested in doing much more than shooting and pointing. He does utilize cinematographer Milton Krasner to good effect, and the basic material is strong enough that Vicki keeps one's attention -- but it's far inferior to its source. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Alex D'Arcy - Robin Ray; Carl Betz - Det. McDonald; Aaron Spelling - Harry Williams; Roy Engel - First Detective; Parley Baer - Second Detective; Stuart Randall - Third Detective; Russ Conway - Detective; Jack Gargan - Detective; Frank Gerstle - Detective; Billy Nelson - Wino; John Dehner - Captain Donald, "Chief"; Richard Garland - Reporter; Ramsay Ames - Cafe Photographer; Frank Fenton - Eric; Helene Hayden - Connie; Harry Seymour - Bartender; Irene Seidner - Cleaning woman; Robert Adler - Policeman; Charles Wagenheim - Seedy man; Al Hill - Bum; Brandon Beach - Man; Harry Carter - Policeman; Charles "Heinie" Conklin - Man; Kenneth Gibson - Man; Ron Hargrave - Boy; Paul Kruger - Policeman; Burt Mustin - Bellboy; Bonnie Paul - Girl; Jerry Sheldon; Kathrun Sheldon - Hotel clerk; Richard West - Delivery Man; Chet Brandenburg - Milkman; June Glory - Woman; Herschel Graham; Jack Mather - Detective
Vicki Lynn (Jean Peters) is a waitress who is transformed into a fashion model by press agent Steve Christopher (Elliott Reid). When Vicki is murdered, detective Ed Cornell (Richard Boone) tries to blame the crime on Christopher.
In fact, the cop knows who the real killer is, but he was so hopelessly in love with the dead girl that he intends to frame the innocent man into the electric chair. With the help of Vicki's sister, Christopher tracks down the real killer and exposes the crooked cop Cornell.
