Thomas Mitchell is a well-respected College professor who has just gotten some bad news. His doctor, James Stephenson, has told Mitchell that he has at best, 5-6 months to live. Mitchell makes his way home to ponder his future.
The next day, Mitchell has a word with the College dean, Thurston Hall, about his fate. Mitchell would like to keep working till the end. Hall, however, can't bear the thought of Mitchell maybe dropping dead in front of the students. He relieves Mitchell of his teaching duties and tells him to go home. "Write a book, take it easy, whatever, but I need to think of the good name of the College. I can't have you die here. And lets not tell anyone about this." A somewhat disheartened Mitchell tries to relax. But after several days he soon gets tired of doing nothing. He hits the Teachers club for a brandy. He asks some of his fellow teaching types a "hypothetical" question. What would they do if they found out they had only 6 months to live? He gets answers such as, travel the world, write a book, commit suicide, visit family, friends etc. One fellow says he would commit a murder. Mitchell asks why. Not just a murder, the man replies, but a murder to help society. Kill a criminal or a dictator. A person who the death of, would help society as a whole.
Mitchell thanks all and heads home to mull over the ideas. Later that week, Mitchell is visited by Geraldine Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is the wife of a former student, Jeffery Lynn, Fitzgerald is worried about Lynn's recent behavior and thinks he might be stepping out on her. Mitchell agrees to see Lynn and have a talk with him.
Mitchell later finds Lynn, but Lynn is in the company of the sultry, Mona Maris. The two are exiting an upscale art gallery. Maybe Fitzgerald was right about Lynn stepping out. Then again, Lynn is a painter. Maybe it was a work related meeting. When Mitchell does catch up with Lynn, Lynn tells him to blow and mind his own business. Mitchell is somewhat taken aback by the response and decides to look deeper into the matter.
He goes to see Miss Maris. Maris it turns out is the owner of the art gallery. He asks Maris if she knows Lynn is married etc. Maris just smiles and tells Mitchell that she is planning on selling some of Lynn's work. There is nothing else going on. Mitchell pays a return visit to Lynn for another talk. This time Lynn breaks down and tells Mitchell everything. Lynn, it turns out is selling some paintings to Maris. But they are counterfeits done in the style of the masterpieces. Maris is then unloading them as genuine to rich clients.
This is eating away at Lynn who wants to quit the racket. " I told Maris I would go to the Police or kill her if she made me produce anymore fakes." Lynn says that Maris had simply laughed and answered, "If I go to jail for selling them, then so do you for making them! Kill me and the outcome is the same. You are finished." Mitchell tells Lynn that he will see what he can do about the matter. He digs up all the info he can on Maris. He interviews everyone he can that knows, or knew Maris. And a first rate "rhymes with witch" Maris turns out to be. She had driven her husband to drink and then left him. She had stuck their daughter in an orphanage. Her mother works scrubbing floors while Maris lives the high life.
Mitchell decides that Maris would be the perfect candidate for a "socially helpful" murder. He pockets his revolver and heads out to pay Maris a visit at her apartment. He explains to Maris that she must die to make good all her sins. He then shoots her dead and leaves.
He returns home and turns in for the night. He will turn himself in to the Police along with his full written confession in the morning. This idea however does not go off to plan. The Police have already arrested Lynn. Lynn had been over-heard by Maris's maid making the threat to kill her.
It takes several days before Mitchell can convince the Police that Lynn had nothing to do with the crime. Mitchell is finally arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During the trial, he explains his well thought out reasons for the murder and how it helped others. Needless to say he gets sentenced to death for the killing, which of course he expected. His life will be shorter by a few weeks.
While Mitchell is waiting in his cell for transfer to death row, the Police bring in a kicking and screaming young man. They toss the man in the next cell. Mitchell asks the jail guard what the fellow had done. The guard tells Mitchell, "He is a fan of yours." A puzzled Mitchell asks the young man what he did. "I killed a man!" "Why?" Asks Mitchell. "Because I wanted to! Just like that professor guy in the papers!" This is where the film should have ended. But, being 1941, they tack on an ending where Mitchell makes a statement that he was wrong in what he did. He did not think it would inspire "copycat" killings. There is never an excuse for murder.
The rest of the cast includes, William Hopper, Alex Lockwood, Jonathan Hale, John Eldridge and Mary Gordon. Look close and you will catch an early bit with Alexis Smith.
This was the fourth film by director, Vincent Sherman. Sherman helmed films such as, NORA PRENTISS, THE UNFAITHFUL, BACKFIRE, THE DAMNED DON'T CRY, AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD and THE GARMENT JUNGLE. (B/W)
