Jigsaw (1949 film)

Jigsaw
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Fletcher Markle
Produced by	Edward J. Danziger Harry Lee Danziger
Screenplay by	Fletcher Markle Vincent McConnor
Story by	John Roeburt
Starring	Franchot Tone Jean Wallace Marc Lawrence
Music by	Robert W. Stringer
Cinematography	Don Malkames
Edited by	Robert Matthews
Production company	Tower Pictures
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	March 11, 1949 (1949-03-11) (United States) May 28, 1949 (1949-05-28) (New York City)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$400,000

Jigsaw is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by Fletcher Markle starring Franchot Tone, Jean Wallace and Marc Lawrence. The feature was produced by the Danziger Brothers, Edward J. Danziger and Harry Lee Danziger, from a screenplay by Vincent McConnor and Fletcher Markle, based on a story by John Roeburt.

Of note is that the film has cameo appearances by Marlene Dietrich, Henry Fonda, John Garfield, Burgess Meredith, Marsha Hunt, Doe Avedon, Everett Sloane, newspaper columnist Leonard Lyons, and the director Fletcher Markle.

The title refers to a jigsaw puzzle and the story begins with the murder of a print shop owner that is quickly labeled a suicide. But newspaper columnist Charlie Riggs is convinced that it was a murder related to a white neo-fascist organization called the Crusaders and imparts this suspicion to Assistant District Attorney Howard Malloy. He also publishes this opinion in his column. Then Riggs himself is murdered, inducing Malloy to launch an investigation into the Crusaders. Because the group appears to be getting backing from organized crime, Malloy looks there, soon receiving unasked-for help from a crime boss called Angel, who recommends him for the position of special prosecutor.

Later, with further help from a prominent judge's widow, Malloy is appointed. This is supposed to put him in the pocket of those behind the murders. But Malloy proceeds to investigate the artist who created the Crusaders recruiting poster. Seeing in the artist's studio a painting of an attractive night club singer, Malloy then proceeds to investigate her. This leads to a series of revelations regarding all of these characters and ends with more people dead and wounded in a fiery exchange at the end.