Mystery

Treasure of Fear (1945)

Originally released as Scared Stiff in 1945 and later retitled Treasure of Fear for television syndication, this comedic murder mystery was directed by Frank McDonald and produced by Pine-Thomas Productions for Paramount Pictures. With a runtime of 65 minutes, the film stars Jack Haley, Ann Savage, and Barton MacLane, blending slapstick humor with noir-style suspense in a wartime urban setting.

Plot Summary
Larry Elliot (Jack Haley), a nervous and bumbling chess editor for a newspaper, stumbles into a murder investigation when a valuable antique chess set becomes the center of a criminal conspiracy. The set is rumored to contain hidden treasure, and various shady characters—including tavern owners, gangsters, and femme fatales—are willing to kill for it.

As Elliot tries to solve the mystery and stay alive, he’s aided (and hindered) by Sally Warren (Ann Savage), a sharp-tongued reporter, and George “Deacon” Markham (Barton MacLane), a tough cop with little patience for Elliot’s antics. The film unfolds in a series of comic misadventures, mistaken identities, and tense confrontations, culminating in a chaotic showdown.

Cast Highlights

  • Jack Haley as Larry Elliot
  • Ann Savage as Sally Warren
  • Barton MacLane as George “Deacon” Markham
  • Veda Ann Borg as Flo Rosson
  • Roger Pryor as Richardson
  • George E. Stone, Lucien Littlefield, Paul Hurst, and Eily Malyon in supporting roles

Trivia & Behind the Scenes

  • The film was retitled Treasure of Fear for television broadcast, likely to emphasize its mystery elements over its comedic tone
  • Jack Haley, best known as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939), plays against type as a jittery amateur sleuth
  • Ann Savage, famous for her role in Detour (1945), adds noir credibility to the film’s otherwise lighthearted tone
  • The screenplay was written by Daniel Mainwaring (later known for Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and Maxwell Shane, blending mystery with wartime paranoia
  • The film’s setting—a sleazy tavern run by eccentric brothers—adds a claustrophobic, noir-like atmosphere
  • Though marketed as a comedy, the film includes dark themes of greed, betrayal, and murder, typical of mid-1940s crime cinema
  • The antique chess set serves as both a MacGuffin and a metaphor for strategic deception and hidden motives
  • Distributed during the final months of World War II, the film reflects wartime anxieties and urban disillusionment

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