Directed by Lewis D. Collins, Killer Dill is a lighthearted crime comedy set in 1931, though unmistakably styled with 1940s flair. The film stars Stuart Erwin as a meek lingerie salesman who stumbles into the criminal underworld and is mistaken for a notorious gangster. With a mix of mistaken identity, romantic rivalry, and mobster mayhem, it’s a quirky satire of gangster tropes.
Plot Summary
Johnny Dill (Stuart Erwin) is a timid underwear salesman who can’t catch a break with women—especially compared to his slick attorney friend William T. Allen (Frank Albertson). When Johnny tries to act tough to impress his crush Judy Parker (Anne Gwynne), he inadvertently gets tangled in a mob hit. The body of a gangster is dumped in his apartment, and suddenly Johnny is hailed as “Killer Dill,” Public Enemy #21.
As rival gangsters and law enforcement close in, Johnny bumbles his way through shootouts, speakeasies, and romantic entanglements. The film builds toward a comic resolution where Johnny must prove he’s not a killer—just a guy who sells ladies’ undergarments.
Cast Highlights
- Stuart Erwin as Johnny “Killer” Dill
- Anne Gwynne as Judy Parker
- Frank Albertson as William T. Allen
- Mike Mazurki as Little Joe
- Milburn Stone as Maboose
- Dorothy Granger, Anthony Warde, and Ben Welden in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film was set in 1931, but critics noted the costumes and hairstyles were unmistakably 1940s, making the period setting feel inconsistent
- Lola Jensen, who played a minor role, made her final film appearance in this movie
- Despite etiquette norms of the time, several male characters are seen wearing hats indoors, a detail that drew attention from trivia buffs
- The film’s humor is often compared to Babyface Morgan (1942), another comedy about a regular guy mistaken for a mob boss
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