IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
A mortally wounded female gangster recounts how she and her gang revived an executed killer from the gas chamber, to try and find out where he buried a fortune in cash.A mortally wounded female gangster recounts how she and her gang revived an executed killer from the gas chamber, to try and find out where he buried a fortune in cash.A mortally wounded female gangster recounts how she and her gang revived an executed killer from the gas chamber, to try and find out where he buried a fortune in cash.
Jean Gillie
- Margot Shelby
- (as Miss Jean Gillie)
Philip Van Zandt
- Tommy
- (as Phil Van Zandt)
Walden Boyle
- Chaplain
- (uncredited)
Martin Cichy
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Tom Coleman
- Trucker at Roadside Inn
- (uncredited)
Franco Corsaro
- Kelsey
- (uncredited)
Madge Crane
- 1st Visitor
- (uncredited)
Dick Elliott
- Driver
- (uncredited)
Virginia Farmer
- Georgia - Margot's Maid
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMethylene blue is a real chemical compound, discovered in 1896 (by Heinrich Caro), which does indeed have the ability to counteract cyanide poisoning. This property was discovered in 1933 by Dr. Matilda Moldenhauer Brooks of San Francisco. It will not, however, restore life to those who have died from cyanide poisoning.
- GoofsWhen Joe walks into the bar, he pauses by the piano. The piano player raises his left hand off the keyboard to wave to Joe, but the piano music continues as if both his hands are still playing.
- Quotes
Sergeant Joe Portugal: Don't let that face of yours go to your head.
Margot Shelby: Or to yours?
Sergeant Joe Portugal: It wouldn't matter if did... People who use pretty faces like you use yours, don't live very long anyway.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light (2006)
Featured review
Odd, intriguing film from Poverty Row
1946's Decoy is a fascinating noir, directed by Jack Bernhard, whose intention it was to showcase his wife, Jean Gille, for American audiences. Gille had worked since 1935 in British films. Unfortunately, two things happened to railroad Gille's career - she and Bernhard divorced, and then she died of pneumonia three years after this film was made.
Tall, slender, with silky blond hair and a British accent, Gille has a formidable role here as the noir femme fatale, Margot Shelby, who will stop at nothing to find and possess $400,000 a death row killer has hidden. To that end, she plays all ends against the middle. He plans to go to his grave with his secret, determined to be the only person who will ever spend that money. No matter how much he loves Margot, he won't tell her where it is. Margot finds out that methylene blue is the antidote for the gas used to execute prisoners and convinces a doctor (Herbert Rudley), who works at the prison, to administer it after the execution. Once you're dead, you're dead, except in this film, I guess. Well, somehow, the doc revives this guy, and Margot, the reluctant doctor, and her boyfriend (Edward Norris) go after the loot.
The story is told in flashback by Margot to Sergeant Portugal (Sheldon Leonard), though at the start of the film, we see the segment leading up to Margot telling her story. I actually went back and watched the beginning over.
Gille is tough as nails, and while her acting style is overt, it's perfect for this type of film. She might have enjoyed a career as a noir femme fatale in the U.S. were it not for her misfortune. Good movie, if you can buy resurrection.
Tall, slender, with silky blond hair and a British accent, Gille has a formidable role here as the noir femme fatale, Margot Shelby, who will stop at nothing to find and possess $400,000 a death row killer has hidden. To that end, she plays all ends against the middle. He plans to go to his grave with his secret, determined to be the only person who will ever spend that money. No matter how much he loves Margot, he won't tell her where it is. Margot finds out that methylene blue is the antidote for the gas used to execute prisoners and convinces a doctor (Herbert Rudley), who works at the prison, to administer it after the execution. Once you're dead, you're dead, except in this film, I guess. Well, somehow, the doc revives this guy, and Margot, the reluctant doctor, and her boyfriend (Edward Norris) go after the loot.
The story is told in flashback by Margot to Sergeant Portugal (Sheldon Leonard), though at the start of the film, we see the segment leading up to Margot telling her story. I actually went back and watched the beginning over.
Gille is tough as nails, and while her acting style is overt, it's perfect for this type of film. She might have enjoyed a career as a noir femme fatale in the U.S. were it not for her misfortune. Good movie, if you can buy resurrection.
helpful•101
- blanche-2
- Feb 23, 2010
- How long is Decoy?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Blonder Lockvogel
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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