Jigsaw

District Attorney Howard Malloy is investigating a right-wing hate group perpetuating attacks on religious and ethnic minorities. Knowing Malloy is a threat to their plans, the secret society sends sultry Barbara (Jean Wallace) to sexually humiliate and discredit him. But Barbara falls for her would-be victim and provides further motivation for Malloy to ferret out the racists.

The brain child of star Franchot Tone, a performer with the charm of Joseph Cotten, the cadence of Edgar G. Robinson and the roguish swagger of Orson Welles, Jigsaw is a grim "B" thriller set on the side streets of New York City and featuring a galaxy of star cameos including Everett Sloane, John Garfield, Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith and Marlene Dietrich. Jigsaw was one of the first "gray" crime dramas of the late 40s and early 50s which heralded in a new era of low-budget, pioneering independent films.

• mystery
• thriller