OVERLOOKED FILM: THE MUGGER (1958)

 Ed McBain's second 87th Precinct novel The Mugger made onto the screen in 1958, but -- alas -- without the 87th Precinct.  Instead of Steve Carella and the boys, we have police psychologist Dr. Pete Graham (Kent Smith), who determines the mugger who has been slashing his victims in the unnamed city (not Isola, nor New York) is some sort of a sexo-psychopath.  James Franciscus plays, Eddie Baxter, a cabdriving friend of Graham's.  As the plot unrolls, there appears to be a connection between the mugger and Eddie's family.  Then Eddie's young sister-in-law Jeannie Page (Sandra Church) is killed, and is found to have been three-month's pregnant.  Graham's undercover policewoman girlfriend, Claire Townsend (Nan Martin), is sent to the streets as bait.  There are a few red herrings and macguffins along the way, but this low-budget film is oddly satisfying.  Also featured are Renee Taylor and (in his first screen role) the blinkl-and-you-might-miss-him George Maharis.

Directed by William Berke (Dangerous Passage, Dick Tracy, The Falcon's Adventure), Berke also helmed the filming of the earlier McBain novel, Cop Hater.  The script was adapted by crime novelist Henry Kane, who wrote the Pete Chambers novels.  Kane also scripted Cop Hater, and wrote for episodic television, including 79 episodes of Martin Kane.

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrDMcvZkp4Q&list=PLBFa2yUBFRr4ek6G4A0K0zFS_zt93kDZv&index=71