CrimeMystery

Just Before Dawn

- PRESCRIPTION FOR DEATH!

In the 7th film of the "Crime Doctor" series based on the radio program, Dr. Robert Ordway is summoned to take attend a diabetic, and gives an injection of insulin taken from a bottle in the patient's pocket. The man dies and Ordway discovers that what he thought was insulin was really poison. Oops! Two other people are murdered before Ordway discovers who replaced the insulin with poison and what the motive was

Release Date : 1946-03-07

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Larry Darmour Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Dr. Robert Ordway

Original Name : Warner Baxter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Claire Foster (as Adelle Roberts)

Original Name : Adele Roberts

Gender : Female

Character Name : Karl Ganss

Original Name : Martin Kosleck

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harriet Travers

Original Name : Mona Barrie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Casper

Original Name : Marvin Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Insp. Burns

Original Name : Charles D. Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clyde Travers (as Robert H. Barrat)

Original Name : Robert Barrat

Gender : Male

Character Name : Attorney Allen S. Tobin (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Arnt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Evans (uncredited)

Original Name : Egon Brecher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Connie Day (uncredited)

Original Name : Peggy Converse

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Deery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harris, Makeup Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Byron Foulger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alexander 'Alec' Girard (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilton Graff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Armand Morcel (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Hecht

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walter Cummings (uncredited)

Original Name : Thomas E. Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louie (uncredited)

Original Name : Skelton Knaggs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Steiner (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Lane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walter Foster (uncredited)

Original Name : George Meeker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack Swayne (uncredited)

Original Name : Craig Reynolds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tobin's Servant (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Soderling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Brick Sullivan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nurse Florence White (uncredited)

Original Name : Irene Tedrow

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Eric Wilton

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-12-02

When his neighbour knocks on his door to say they are having a party in the house opposite, she doesn't actually invite "Dr. Ordway" (Warner Baxter) but instead asks him to come and treat a suffering diabetic. He helps out with the insulin only for the man to promptly collapse in a heap, dead, with only a dying phrase to help explain. The autopsy reveals the drug was poisoned, and so police inspector "Burns" (Charles D. Brown) suggests to the doctor that the best way to exonerate himself from any suspicion of complicity is to do the detective work himself. His investigations prove quite perilous, though, and as the body count starts to mount we are introduced to a couple of sinister characters and begin to see the a pattern of greed and duplicity. "Ordway" must use his guile to outwit his unknown antagonist at some considerable risk to himself (and his eyesight) as he tries to entrap the culprit. This is quite good fun with Baxter delivering engagingly as he tests and tricks his suspects. There are no shortage of them, and the supporting cast provide workmanlike efforts as he whittles down the suspects and tries to stay on the right side of the crematorium wall. The denouement is all rather rushed and the audience is well ahead of the curve as he follows the clues, but it's still quite a watchable short drama.