Deadline at Dawn

Deadline at Dawn is a 1946 American film noir, the only film directed by stage director Harold Clurman. It was written by Clifford Odets and based on the 1944 novel of the same name by Cornell Woolrich (as William Irish). The RKO Pictures film release was the only cinematic collaboration between Clurman and his former Group Theatre associate, screenwriter Odets. The director of photography was RKO regular Nicholas Musuraca. The musical score was by German refugee composer Hanns Eisler.

Sleepy Parsons, a blind piano player, arrives at the apartment of his ex-wife Edna Bartelli, who owes him $1,400 (equivalent to $23,114 in 2025). She checks her purse, but discovers it is missing. She immediately believes a U.S. Navy sailor has it. Nearby a newsstand in New York City, Alex Winkley wakes up with a hazy memory having been drinking the night before, and discovers the cash in his pocket. With seven hours left before he departs for duty, Alex approaches June Goffe, a dance hall girl, at a night club. They dance, and she brings Alex to her apartment.

Before he leaves June's apartment, Alex learns June's mother lives in Norfolk, Virginia, which is nearby a naval base where Alex is stationed. He hands her some of the money to support her, explaining he had stolen it after fixing Edna's radio at her apartment. June convinces Alex to return the money, only for him to discover that Edna is dead.

There, June suspects Alex of having murdered Edna, but he claims his innocence. Outside the apartment, Babe Dooley, one of Edna's past lovers, cries out for her until he leaves. They suspect a man had killed Edna by strangulation, and although June is at first reluctant, she and Alex decide to retrace the killer's steps. They learn hours ago, a blonde woman with a limp had rushed into a cab. June learns from a cab driver he had driven the blonde downtown, while Alex follows a distraught man. Alex evidently learns that the man raced off because his cat was choking and orders his taxi back to Edna's.

June arrives at the apartment of Helen Robinson and her husband Jerry. Helen has an argument with her husband, and steps out where June interrogates Helen about her whereabouts the night before. Alex and June arrive back at Edna's apartment, while Gus Hoffman, a taxi driver concerned about Alex, follows him. They involve Gus in the investigation, and locate Edna's letters intending to blackmail multiple past lovers and a bad check signed by Lester Brady.

A woman known as Mrs. Raymond walks into Edna's apartment, where she is immediately startled to learn that Edna is dead. Alex, June, and Gus reveal themselves and Mrs. Raymond runs out of the apartment. Alex calls Lester notifying him of Edna's murder, and Mrs. Raymond, having arrived at Lester's apartment, suspects Alex of the murder.

Alex arrives at Lester's apartment, where he is confronted by Edna's brother Val, who suspects Alex of the murder. The three men go to Edna's apartment. Enraged at his sister's murder, Val assaults Alex until Lester convinces him to stop him. June and Gus return back to the apartment, and using a white carnation as a clue, they drive down to a nightclub where Sleepy Parsons is performing. Wearing Edna's perfume, June informs Sleepy of the murder. Val inquires Sleepy with questions, and Sleepy dies from a fatal heart attack. The police are soon involved and Alex is interrogated for Edna's murder.

However, Jerry Robinson confesses to killing Edna, but his testimony is disproven. Gus suddenly confesses to killing Edna, having wanted to protect his daughter Helen's marriage. Jerry had been romantically involved with Edna, who gave birth to his child. On the night of the murder, Gus confronted Edna, and in a fit of rage, he strangled her. Gus pleads for Alex's release and he is booked for homicide. Before Alex departs for naval duty, he shares a kiss with June.