The Crime Doctor's Courage is a 1945 American mystery film directed by George Sherman and starring Warner Baxter, Hillary Brooke and Jerome Cowan. It is part of the Crime Doctor series of films made by Columbia Pictures.
Dr. Robert Ordway investigates the murder of fortune-hunter Gordon Carson, not long after his marriage to wealthy Kathleen Carson. It is possible that Kathleen, taking into consideration the mysterious deaths of Carson's previous wives—both of whom died while on their honeymoons—may have killed her husband out of self-preservation. However, there are several other suspects, including Miguel and Delores Bragga, a pair of mysterious Spanish dancers; Bob Rencoret, an eccentric young man in love with Kathleen; Jeffers 'Jeff' Jerome, a mystery novelist; and David Lee, the brother of Carson's first wife.
Tropes:
- Actually Not a Vampire: Miguel and Delores Bragga go to considerable lengths to make it appear they are vampires: never appearing in daylight, having no mirrors in their home, and appearing to sleep in coffins. However, this is ultimately revealed to be a publicity stunt engineered by Jeff.
- Alliterative Name: Jeffers 'Jeff' Jerome
- Black-Tie Infiltration: David Lee gets a job as a waiter to infiltrate Gordon and Kathleen Carson's dinner party, where he creates a scene by accusing Gordon of having murdered his first two wives.
- The Bluebeard: Gordon Carson is suspected of being this after his first two wives died under mysterious circumstances during their honeymoons. However, no evidence is found to prove these were murders, and ultimately it turns out that the deaths were just unfortunate accidents.
- Busman's Holiday: Dr. Ordway is supposed to be on vacation in California when he is approached by old acquaintance Kathleen Carson to get his opinion regarding her new husband Gordon. Ordway attends a dinner party that evening during which Gordon is murdered, and Ordway is immediately catapulted into solving the murder.
- Dinner and a Show: David Lee gets a job as a waiter to infiltrate Gordon and Kathleen Carson's dinner party, where he creates a scene by accusing Gordon of having murdered his first two wives.
- Fresh Clue: Gordon Carson is found shot through the heart in his locked study with powder burns on his coat in what appears to be suicide. However, Dr. Ordway is in the room within seconds of the shot being fired and when he touches the gun, discovers it is cold and could not have been just fired.
- Janitor Impersonation Infiltration: David Lee gets a job as a waiter to infiltrate Gordon and Kathleen Carson's dinner party, where he creates a scene by accusing Gordon of having murdered his first two wives.
- Locked Room Mystery: Gordon Carson is found shot dead in a locked room with bars on the windows in what appears to be a case of suicide. It isn't suicide.
- Never Suicide: Gordon Carson is found shot through the heart in his locked study with powder burns on his coat in what appears to be suicide. However, Dr. Ordway is in the room within seconds of the shot being fired and when he touches the gun, discovers it is cold and could not have been just fired. Later, forensics confirms that the bullet that killed Carson did not come from the gun found by the body.
- "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: Jeff is deliberately creating the impression that the Braggas are 300 year old vampires as a publicity stunt. The killer tries to take advantage of this; planning on murdering Miguel by driving a Wooden Stake through his heart and making it look like Jeff had done so under the belief that Miguel really was a vampire.
- Slipping a Mickey: Having invited Dr. Ordway back to their home to meet Kathleen, Miguel and Delores give him a glass of drugged wine; knocking him out to allow Kathleen to slip away again.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: David Lee plays a major role early in the film, accusing Gordon Carson of being The Bluebeard. He is arrested after Carson is murdered, but isn't mentioned again after being cleared.
- Wooden Stake: The killer plans to murder Miguel Bragga by driving a wooden stake through his heart; making it look like Jeff had actually believed he was a vampire.
