Directed by S. Sylvan Simon and written by Roy Huggins, I Love Trouble is a stylish film noir mystery that introduced audiences to Stuart Bailey, a Los Angeles private detective whose character would later evolve into the lead of the hit TV series 77 Sunset Strip. Produced by Cornell Pictures and distributed by Columbia Pictures, the film blends deception, double identities, and a tangled web of Hollywood intrigue.
Plot Summary
Wealthy politician Ralph Johnson hires detective Stuart Bailey (Franchot Tone) to investigate his missing wife’s past. Bailey uncovers that she was once a nightclub dancer named Jane Breeger, who later reinvented herself as Janie Joy and enrolled at UCLA using stolen identity papers. As Bailey digs deeper, he encounters a string of shady characters, including a murdered entertainer, a mysterious sister, and a club owner with a grudge.
The investigation spirals into a deadly game when Bailey realizes he’s been set up—Johnson hired him not to find his wife, but to help cover up her murder and frame Bailey for the crime. With noir-style twists and a cynical edge, Bailey must outwit the setup and expose the truth.
Cast Highlights
- Franchot Tone as Stuart Bailey
- Janet Blair as Norma Shannon
- Janis Carter as Jane Breeger / Janie Joy / Mrs. Caprillo
- Adele Jergens as Boots Nestor
- Glenda Farrell as Hazel Bixby
- Raymond Burr as Herb Garry
- John Ireland, Steven Geray, and Tom Powers in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- Based on Roy Huggins’ first novel The Double Take, the film laid the groundwork for his later TV creations, including Maverick, The Fugitive, and The Rockford Files
- Stuart Bailey, played here by Franchot Tone, was later portrayed by Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip, which debuted in 1958
- The film was produced by Cornell Pictures, a short-lived company founded by Tone and Simon—named after Tone’s alma mater, Cornell University
- Columbia Pictures failed to renew the copyright, so the film fell into the public domain, which is why many surviving prints are low-quality duplicates
- Bailey’s office window overlooks the neon sign of The Broadway Hollywood department store, and his apartment view includes the Knickerbocker Hotel—real Los Angeles landmarks
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