Crossroads (MGM 1942, Hedy Lamarr, Basil Rathbone)

In Crossroads French diplomat David Talbot marries the beautiful Lucienne, but shortly afterward finds himself being blackmailed by crooks who insist he once murdered a man.

The problem is that Talbot believes he is suffering from amnesia and has cause to think that he did indeed commit the murder he is accused of. A supposed ex-flame, Michelle Allaine, corroborates the blackmailer’s claims, as does a photo of Talbot and Michelle out on the town together.

Hedy Lamarr made Crossroads during World War II. One of her other wartime activities was less well publicized: with Hollywood composer George Antheil, Lamarr received a patent for an underwater detonation device for the war effort.

production details
USA | MGM | 83 minutes | 1942

Director: Jack Conway
Script: John H. Kafka, Howard Emmett Rogers, Guy Trosper,

cast
Claire Trevor as Michelle Allaine
Anna Q. Nilsson as Madame Deval (uncredited)
Gibson Gowland as Reporter (uncredited)
Sig Ruman as Dr. Alex Dubroc
Frank Conroy as Defense Attorney (uncredited)
William Powell as David Talbot aka Jean Pelletier
Hedy Lamarr as Lucienne Talbot
Basil Rathbone as Henri Sarrou
Margaret Wycherly as Madame Pelletier
Felix Bressart as Dr. Andre Tessier
H.B. Warner as Prosecuting Attorney
Philip Merivale as Commissaire
John St. Polis as Professor (uncredited)
Enrique Acosta as Associate Judge (uncredited)
Francis X. Bushman Jr. as Giant Policeman (uncredited)
Fritz Leiber as Foreign Minister Deval (uncredited)
Vladimir Sokoloff as Carlos Le Duc (uncredited)
Eric Mayne as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)