Red Light (1949): Cast & Plot
Red Light is a 1949 crime thriller directed by Roy Del Ruth, starring Raymond Burr as Nick Cherney, Chuck Hamilton and George Raft. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 23m (83 min)
- Director
- Roy Del Ruth
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Roy Del Ruth Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Red Light About?
The premise of Red Light without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Nick Cherney, imprisoned for embezzling from Torno Freight Co., sees a chance to avenge Johnny Torno by targeting Johnny’s brother Jess, a priest. He hires fellow inmate Rocky—released a week before Nick—to kill Jess. As Jess dies, he tells Johnny he left a clue “in the Bible.” Angry Johnny searches for missing Gideon Bible from Jess’s hotel room.
Red Light Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gideon bible
- revenge
- san francisco california
- embezzlement
- loss of brother
- brother brother relationship
- murder
- crushed to death
- businessman
- neon sign
- vengeance
- freight line
+38 more Show fewer
- truck parking lot
- murder of priest
- overhearing conversation
- brother murdered
- sabotaged car
- american prison
- killed in a hotel room
- obese man
- catholic priest
- kicking a jack away to crush someone
- reference to execution by gas chamber
- villain electrocuted
- murder of a murderer
- dying young
- climbing on a neon sign
- u.s. army chaplain
- pistol in drawer
- hauler
- musical clock
- man shot to death
- contract killer
- reference to christian faith
- bible
- hotel
- prison
- priest
- trucking company
- convict
- electrocution
- truck
- police detective
- mexican
- catholic church
- biblical passage
- bellhop
- hired gun
- bowling
- cellmate
Red Light Cast & Characters
Raymond Burr leads the cast as Nick Cherney, with Chuck Hamilton as Detective Arresting Nick (uncredited) and George Raft as Johnny Torno. Directed by Roy Del Ruth; 38 actors are credited in all.
- Director Roy Del Ruth
-
Raymond Burr as Nick Cherney - Chuck Hamilton as Detective Arresting Nick (uncredited)
-
George Raft as Johnny Torno -
Harry Morgan as Rocky
Also Starring in Red Light
· 34 more- David Leonard Man Reading Bible (uncredited)
- Arthur Franz Fr. Jess Torno
- Virginia Mayo Carla North
- Gene Lockhart Warni Hazard
- Phillip Pine Pablo Cabrillo
- Brick Sullivan Red (uncredited)
- Arthur Shields Father Redmond
- Simon Oakland Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- Charles Ferguson Reporter at Airport (uncredited)
- Paul Frees Bellhop (uncredited)
- Al Hill Burt (uncredited)
- Barton MacLane Detective Strecker
- Frank Orth Wallace 'Wally' Stoner
- Victor Sen Yung Vincent (uncredited)
- William Frawley Hotel Night Clerk
- Bob Perry Red's Helper (uncredited)
Show all 38 cast members Show fewer cast members
- William Phillips Det. Jim Ryan
- Claire Carleton Waitress (uncredited)
- Sol Murgi Convict (uncredited)
- Knox Manning Newsreel Commentator (voice) (uncredited)
- Stanley Clements Carlson Hotel Bellhop
- Leonard Bremen Bookie (uncredited)
- Edwin Max Bert Adams (uncredited)
- Joe Kirk Reporter in Newsreel (uncredited)
- Phyllis Kennedy Chambermaid (uncredited)
- Mack Gray Bookie (uncredited)
- Soledad Jiménez Pablo's Mother (uncredited)
- Bill Cartledge Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- Ken Murray Ken Murray
- Movita Trina (uncredited)
- Jack Overman Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- John Wald Reporter at Airport (uncredited)
- Bob Jellison Man in Hotel Room (uncredited)
- Robert Espinoza Miguel (uncredited)
Red Light Plot Summary
What happens in Red Light from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Nick Cherney, a bookkeeper, is sent to jail for embezzling from Johnny Torno’s trucking company. One week before his release, he watches a newsreel showing Johnny Torno welcoming home his heroic brother, Fr. Jess Torno, a Catholic chaplain who has just returned from a World War II prisoner-of-war camp. Fueled by a vengeful plan, Nick enlists a fellow inmate about to be freed, Rocky, to murder [Fr. Jess Torno].
Full summary
The whole story of Red Light, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Red Light?
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 bookkeeper that is sent to jail for embezzlement?
Cars in Red Light
14 cars on screen, including the 1941 Ford Super De Luxe and the 1948 Packard Custom Eight Victoria.
-
1941 Ford Super De Luxe Important role -
1948 Packard Custom Eight Victoria Important role -
1947 Chevrolet Stylemaster Minor role -
1946 De Soto De Luxe Minor role
Red Light Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Luce rossa” and “Luz roja”.
- Also known as
-
- Luce rossa
- Luz roja
- 危险信号
- Desafiando o Perigo
Seen Red Light?
Movies Like Red Light
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Red Team, Red: The Dark Side and Red Devil.
Red Light FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Red Light, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Red Light?
Red Light runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).
When was Red Light released?
Red Light was released on September 15, 1949.
Who directed Red Light?
Red Light was directed by Roy Del Ruth.
More films by Roy Del Ruth Who is in the cast of Red Light?
Red Light stars Raymond Burr as Nick Cherney, Chuck Hamilton as Detective Arresting Nick (uncredited) and George Raft as Johnny Torno, among 38 credited actors.
Does Red Light have a post-credit scene?
No. Red Light has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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