Seven Doors to Death (1944)

Affable comic actor Chick Chandler hadn’t had a film starring role in years when Seven Doors to Death was produced in 1944, but the wartime leading-man shortage enabled him to secure top billing in this leisurely comedy/mystery. Chandler plays architect Jimmy McMillan, who designs an exclusive shopping center/apartment building with seven entrances. When a burglary-murder occurs in the building, practically every occupant is suspect, since every one had a convenient avenue of entrance. To find the genuine killer-and incidentally, to clear himself of suspicion-Jimmy plays detective, wandering through the building and mentally reconstructing the crime. Other veteran perfomers parading before the cameras include June Clyde, George Meeker, Gregory Gay, and motorcyle-cop-turned-actor Edgar Dearing.

1944, B&W, 70 minutes