Directed by Roy William Neill, Eyes of the Underworld is a taut, 61-minute film noir crime drama produced by Universal Pictures. Released during the height of World War II, it delivers a gritty tale of blackmail, murder, and an auto-theft ring, all wrapped in shadowy intrigue and moral ambiguity.
Plot Summary
Police Chief Richard Bryan (Richard Dix) is a respected lawman with a hidden past. When a special investigator arrives to probe a wave of car thefts and corruption, Bryan finds himself framed by Kirby, his scheming assistant, who’s secretly working with the criminal gang. As the conspiracy deepens, Bryan’s loyal allies—including his secretary Betty Standing (Wendy Barrie) and tough-as-nails friend Benny (Lon Chaney Jr.)—must uncover the truth and clear his name.
The film builds tension through a series of twists, betrayals, and moral dilemmas, culminating in a showdown that tests loyalty and justice.
Cast Highlights
- Richard Dix as Chief Richard Bryan
- Wendy Barrie as Betty Standing
- Lon Chaney Jr. as Benny
- Don Porter, Lloyd Corrigan, Marc Lawrence, and Edward Pawley in supporting roles
- Billy Lee as Mickey Bryan, adding emotional depth as Bryan’s son
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- Dix and Chaney had previously appeared together in Badlands of Dakota (1941)
- Lon Chaney Jr., fresh off The Wolf Man (1941), was prominently featured in promotional materials to capitalize on his rising fame
- The film was also known as Criminals of the Underworld in some markets
- Early TV broadcasts began in 1946, making it one of Universal’s first B-pictures to hit postwar television
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