Manhandled (1949): Cast & Plot
Manhandled is a 1949 crime drama directed by Lewis R. Foster, starring Dan Duryea as Karl Benson, Sterling Hayden and Alan Napier. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Lewis R. Foster
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Manhandled About?
The premise of Manhandled without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Merle Kramer, a stenographer for a psychiatrist, dates ex‑cop‑turned‑private‑eye Karl Benson. She notes a patient—an author haunted by recurring dreams of murdering his jeweled‑laden wife. When that wife is found dead exactly as in the dream, the husband becomes the prime suspect. Police and insurance investigator Joe Cooper delve into the case, uncovering a tangled web of deception that shows many involved, including Merle, are not who they appear to be.
Manhandled Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nightmare
- wife
- dysfunctional husband wife relationship
- jewelry collection
- jewel robbery
- crushed by a car against a wall
- forged work references
- planting evidence
- pawn shop
- murder with robbery
- recurring nightmare
- drunken woman
+38 more Show fewer
- overhearing police radio
- evil doctor
- troubled marriage
- woman murdered
- killed by car
- woman knocked unconscious
- water dispenser
- suspicion divert
- pawnbroker
- jewel
- male psychiatrist
- man killed
- robber robs robber
- perfume bottle
- duplicate key
- private eye
- told in flashback
- man knocked unconscious
- escaping via fire escape
- spying on someone
- gem
- infamy
- englishman in usa
- dream
- secretary
- murder
- insurance investigator
- sleeping pills
- single mother
- private detective
- police detective
- pawnshop
- jewelry
- ex cop
- dream sequence
- jealousy
- peeping
- flashback
Manhandled Cast & Characters
Dan Duryea leads the cast as Karl Benson, with Sterling Hayden as Joe Cooper and Alan Napier as Alton Bennet. Directed by Lewis R. Foster; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Lewis R. Foster
- Dan Duryea as Karl Benson
-
Sterling Hayden as Joe Cooper -
Alan Napier as Alton Bennet - Irene Hervey as Ruth / Mrs. Alton Bennet
Also Starring in Manhandled
· 9 more- Harold Vermilyea Dr. Redman
- Dorothy Lamour Merl Kramer
- Art Smith Detective Lt. Bill Dawson
- Irving Bacon Sgt. Fayle
- Ian Wolfe Charlie, a Fence (uncredited)
- Keye Luke Chinese Laundry Owner (uncredited)
- George Humbert Italian Restaurant Owner (uncredited)
- Phillip Reed Guy Bayard
- Maidie Norman Christine, Bennet's Maid (uncredited)
More from Lewis R. Foster
More films directed by Lewis R. Foster: Tonka, The Sign of Zorro, Dakota Incident and The Bold and the Brave.
Manhandled Plot Summary
What happens in Manhandled from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Struggling writer Alton Bennet sits with psychiatrist Dr. Redman, Harold Vermilyea, and reveals a troubling pattern: he is tormented by nightmares in which he murders his wealthy wife. His fear intensifies as he describes Ruth Bennet Irene Hervey, the woman he married, who owns very valuable jewels and seems to be the center of a dangerous secret.
Full summary
The whole story of Manhandled, scene by scene
Manhandled Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Manhandled.
How Well Do You Know Manhandled?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the struggling writer at the center of the story?
Cars in Manhandled
8 cars on screen, including the 1946 Ford Super De Luxe and the 1941 Cadillac unknown.
-
1946 Ford Super De Luxe Important role -
1941 Cadillac unknown Minor role -
1946 De Soto Taxicab Minor role -
1946 De Soto Taxicab Minor role
Manhandled Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “La traccia del serpente” and “笑面欲魔”.
- Also known as
-
- La traccia del serpente
- 笑面欲魔
- La maltratada
- Numa Noite Sombria
Seen Manhandled?
Movies Like Manhandled
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including No Man’s Woman, A Kind of Murder and Unmasked.
Manhandled FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Manhandled, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Manhandled?
Manhandled runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was Manhandled released?
Manhandled was released on July 21, 1949.
Who directed Manhandled?
Manhandled was directed by Lewis R. Foster.
More films by Lewis R. Foster Who is in the cast of Manhandled?
Manhandled stars Dan Duryea as Karl Benson, Sterling Hayden as Joe Cooper and Alan Napier as Alton Bennet, among 13 credited actors.
Does Manhandled have a post-credit scene?
No. Manhandled has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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