Compact, tough little noir with Don Castle playing a dual role as the new D.A. and a criminal who impersonates him. Complications ensue when the good guy then has to impersonate the bad guy -- but the bad guy's wife shows up. Joe Sawyer is effective playing against his normal type as a corrupt cop. Edward Keane plays the main bad guy, wheelchair-bound but still able to be dastardly. Good to see Jeff Chandler (on the bad side) and James Arness (on the good side) in small but effective roles. It moves fast, the story's not bad and the cast acquits itself well. This one's a rarity that I saw at the American Cinematheque film noir festival. Very much worth your time.
11 Reviews
Unfamiliar leads, familiar support
bkoganbing13 July 2015
This independent production which was fortunate enough to have 20th Century Fox pick it up for distribution has three leads that you've never heard of in Don Castle, Peggy Knudsen, and Patricia Knight. But the supporting cast is chock full of familiar character players who really make Roses Are Red work.
Castle plays the double role of a newly elected District Attorney and a lookalike crook hired by the big mob boss Edward Keane to impersonate the DA. Overseeing the operation is crooked homicide cop Joe Sawyer.
It was a really good plan and Keane though in a wheelchair hasn't lost any brain power being paralyzed. Only it doesn't quite work out for those who put it together. Knudsen who is a reporter and girlfriend of the DA and Knight who is the wife of the impersonator play key roles in putting Keane and his crooks.
With some name leads and better production values Roses Are Red would be far better known. But with Charles Lane as Keane's lawyer, Douglas Fowley as a would be stoolie, Charles McGraw and Jeff Chandler as some of Keane's muscle and James Arness as an honest cop you can't go wrong with this film.
Castle plays the double role of a newly elected District Attorney and a lookalike crook hired by the big mob boss Edward Keane to impersonate the DA. Overseeing the operation is crooked homicide cop Joe Sawyer.
It was a really good plan and Keane though in a wheelchair hasn't lost any brain power being paralyzed. Only it doesn't quite work out for those who put it together. Knudsen who is a reporter and girlfriend of the DA and Knight who is the wife of the impersonator play key roles in putting Keane and his crooks.
With some name leads and better production values Roses Are Red would be far better known. But with Charles Lane as Keane's lawyer, Douglas Fowley as a would be stoolie, Charles McGraw and Jeff Chandler as some of Keane's muscle and James Arness as an honest cop you can't go wrong with this film.
Defective Detective
godfreecharlie15 October 2020
Roses are Red
CinemaSerf8 January 2023
B-lister Don Castle doubles up here as a paroled hoodlum ("Carney") who bears a striking resemblance to the local DA ("Thorne"). When the latter is kidnapped, the plan is for him to be substituted by the felon who can then do the bidding of local kingpin, the wheelchair bound "Locke" (Edward Keane). Before they can implement their cunning plan, though, the prisoner manages to free himself and assumes the role of of his own would-be impersonator, and just in the nick of time too. Now it is up to "Thorne" to set a trap for the criminals and to avoid detection - especially perilous when the other man's wife (Patricia Knight) shows up. Surely she will spot the difference and turn him in? We've seen the plot once or twice before so we don't get anything new, but the story is still quite a quickly paced, watchable affair with Jeff Chandler curiously cast as the baddie's enforcer-in-chief. Joe Sawyer is also quite effective as the copper "Lt. Rocky" and despite the rather unhelpful title, it kills an hour well enough.
Good but confusing storytelling
Delrvich26 July 2020
Focuses on some characters, switched to another set including Duke Arno (Charles McGraw) hen, the story involving the DA and his doppelganger takes off, then, it quickly wraps up mentioning a Duke who is later offed. I had to do some research to find out who he was. Of course, I had watched the movie in two different viewings.
BIZARRO B-MOVIE...GOOD & EVIL LOOK-ALIKE D.A. FIGHT IT OUT IN LOW-BUDGET NOIR
LeonLouisRicci9 August 2021
Predictable Picture with some Fun and a Few Good Scenes Highlight this Minor Movie that Suffers from a Small Room Template.
Check-Out the Machinations of Actor Placements Within the Frame of a Cramped Environment.
It's Humorous to See a Grouping of Characters Shoehorned Like a Jigsaw Puzzle Into the Card-Board Sets.
Virtually On-Top of One-Another with Heads Dangling Above and Along-Side of One Another. It's a Hoot.
It's All Familiar Stuff About a Look-Alike Crook Replacing a District Attorney to do the Bidding of a Crime-Boss.
This Particular Mr. Big is a Smooth Talking Wheel-Chair Bound (Edward Keane) who Seems about as Intimidating as one of His Aquarium Fish.
The Wheel-Chair, by the way, Comes in Handy when the Police Move In.
Part of the Fun is Watching the Switcheroo.
Keeping it All Straight and Identifying just Who is the DA Now.
You Can Bet One of the Girl-Friend Dames will Be Able to Tell by a Smoocheroo.
More Fun can be Had Spotting Noir Regular Charles McGraw's Gravely Voice Bullying People, Jeff Chandler as a Giant Blondie Named "Knuckles", and James Arness as a Cop.
Slightly Above Average in the Low-Low Budget Sphere of B-Noirs.
More Airy than Most with a Bouncy, Side-Glance Look, and an Almost Tongue-in-Cheek Patina.
Worth a Watch.
Check-Out the Machinations of Actor Placements Within the Frame of a Cramped Environment.
It's Humorous to See a Grouping of Characters Shoehorned Like a Jigsaw Puzzle Into the Card-Board Sets.
Virtually On-Top of One-Another with Heads Dangling Above and Along-Side of One Another. It's a Hoot.
It's All Familiar Stuff About a Look-Alike Crook Replacing a District Attorney to do the Bidding of a Crime-Boss.
This Particular Mr. Big is a Smooth Talking Wheel-Chair Bound (Edward Keane) who Seems about as Intimidating as one of His Aquarium Fish.
The Wheel-Chair, by the way, Comes in Handy when the Police Move In.
Part of the Fun is Watching the Switcheroo.
Keeping it All Straight and Identifying just Who is the DA Now.
You Can Bet One of the Girl-Friend Dames will Be Able to Tell by a Smoocheroo.
More Fun can be Had Spotting Noir Regular Charles McGraw's Gravely Voice Bullying People, Jeff Chandler as a Giant Blondie Named "Knuckles", and James Arness as a Cop.
Slightly Above Average in the Low-Low Budget Sphere of B-Noirs.
More Airy than Most with a Bouncy, Side-Glance Look, and an Almost Tongue-in-Cheek Patina.
Worth a Watch.
Late Fox B
boblipton28 January 2018
This is one of the movies made during the waning days of Sol Wurtzel's reign at Fox's B division. Don Castle plays a dual role: the newly elected DA and the newly released convict who looks just like him, so local Big Boss Edward Keane has a dark-haired Jeff Chandler kidnap the one and arrange for the other to study him for a substitution. However, they get into a fight, and Chandler shoots the wrong one, leaving Castle imitating himself imitating himself, while various subplots dead end against each other.
While 20th Century-Fox had the best B movies in the late 1930s and early 1940s, by the time this was made, they looked cheap; the long-time money-spinners like Charlie Chan and Jane Withers had gone, and the entire B division would be shut down within a year. Int he meantime, the pleasures available are watching older reliable actors like Paul Guilefoyle and Charles Lane (in a rare straight role) and untested youngsters like James Arness and Charles McGraw.
While 20th Century-Fox had the best B movies in the late 1930s and early 1940s, by the time this was made, they looked cheap; the long-time money-spinners like Charlie Chan and Jane Withers had gone, and the entire B division would be shut down within a year. Int he meantime, the pleasures available are watching older reliable actors like Paul Guilefoyle and Charles Lane (in a rare straight role) and untested youngsters like James Arness and Charles McGraw.
Too many pedals spoil the flower.
mark.waltz17 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It takes much concentration and patience to get into this convoluted film noir that manages to succeed in its conclusion, if you make it that far. It involves the ridiculous twist that a gangster (Don Castle) is the doppleganger of the D.A. who is out to clean up the city and attracts the wrath of Mr. Big (Edward Keene), a crippled mobster who has his wheelchair equipped with a hidden gun inside a box attached to the steering device. You've got two femme fatales (Peggy Knudsen and Patricia Knight), a crooked cop (Joe Sawyer), and a few future B stars (Jeff Chandler and James Arness) in minor parts. Somehow D.A. Castle gets kidnapped, gangster Castle takes his place, and gangster Castle's wife (Patricia Knight) shows up with knowledge that threatens to blow the whole scheme out of the water.
There are a couple of interesting smaller performances, including Charles Lane as an admitted former ambulance chasing lawyer who has gone big time by working for the mob, and portly Jody Gilbert as the oh so helpful landlady who won't take no for an answer when helping Knudsen try to locate Knight even though Knudsen wants to get away from her ASAP. It's intriguing in the sense that if you manage to fit all the pieces together in this complex puzzle, you see the intelligence behind the confusion, but there is nothing clear cut about how this is presented. But if you are lucky to catch onto the strategy, you'll come out of this with some enjoyment. It's one of those films that is worth revisiting just to try and pick up all the pieces and fit them in neatly together to complete the many pieces of the puzzle. Otherwise, your reaction to what's going on might just be a single word: "Huh?"
There are a couple of interesting smaller performances, including Charles Lane as an admitted former ambulance chasing lawyer who has gone big time by working for the mob, and portly Jody Gilbert as the oh so helpful landlady who won't take no for an answer when helping Knudsen try to locate Knight even though Knudsen wants to get away from her ASAP. It's intriguing in the sense that if you manage to fit all the pieces together in this complex puzzle, you see the intelligence behind the confusion, but there is nothing clear cut about how this is presented. But if you are lucky to catch onto the strategy, you'll come out of this with some enjoyment. It's one of those films that is worth revisiting just to try and pick up all the pieces and fit them in neatly together to complete the many pieces of the puzzle. Otherwise, your reaction to what's going on might just be a single word: "Huh?"
A ridiculous plot that worked!
planktonrules9 March 2012
As the credits rolled, I noticed that this cheap film managed to have a rather interesting supporting cast. The likes of James Arness, Joe Sawyer, Jeff Chandler, Charles McGrawm Paul Guilfoyle and Charles Lane all appear in this movie--several of these before they went onto become stars.
The plot of "Roses Are Red" is dumb. It all rests on the clichéd idea that there are two identical strangers--one a crusading District Attorney and the other a crook! When you see this in the film, resist the urge to stop watching. That's because despite this, the filmmakers and actors did a great job in carrying off this silly idea. As far as the actors go, I really liked Joe Sawyer in his slimy cop role but no-name actor Don Castle also deserves kudos for being able to pull off the dual roles as the DA/crook. I won't tell you what happens next--it would spoil the fun--and this film noir movie is fun. If you don't believe me, get a load of some of the snappy dialog:
"No matter how you slice her, she can't be any deader!"
(after the cops look through a murder victim's purse and count her money--"...looks like her next ride will be on the city..."
The plot of "Roses Are Red" is dumb. It all rests on the clichéd idea that there are two identical strangers--one a crusading District Attorney and the other a crook! When you see this in the film, resist the urge to stop watching. That's because despite this, the filmmakers and actors did a great job in carrying off this silly idea. As far as the actors go, I really liked Joe Sawyer in his slimy cop role but no-name actor Don Castle also deserves kudos for being able to pull off the dual roles as the DA/crook. I won't tell you what happens next--it would spoil the fun--and this film noir movie is fun. If you don't believe me, get a load of some of the snappy dialog:
"No matter how you slice her, she can't be any deader!"
(after the cops look through a murder victim's purse and count her money--"...looks like her next ride will be on the city..."
Who's Who?
kapelusznik1823 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Tight little crime flick feathering in it both Jeff Chandler as Knuckles McGurk and James Arness as Ray the leg breaker who are working for wheelchair bound crime boss Jim Locke, Edward Keane, who's crime racket empire is about to come to an end with the new crime busting Tom Dewey and Clark Gable look alike D.A Robert A. Thorne, Don Castle, about to be sworn into office. It turns out that D.A Thorne is a dead ringer for the just released hoodlum Dan Carney, also played by Don Castle, whom Locke's main man his mobbed up police Let. Rocky Wells, Joe Sawyer, is to replaced Thorne with as the new elected D.A. That's by kidnapping and later knocking him off before he takes the oath of office. After kidnapping Thorne he's confronted by Carney who's about to finish him off only, after a violent and drag out struggle, is knocked out himself by Thorne.
It's then that Knockles one of Locke's enforcers steps in and takes the unconscious Carney-Who he thinks is D.A Thorne- and drives out in the country with Thorne-Whom he thinks is Carney- helping out in pushing the car off a cliff killing and burning Carney beyond recognition. Locke now feeling that D.A Thorne is no longer a danger it's Thorne's girlfriend news reporter Martha McCormack, Peggy Knudsen, who uncovers the truth about Thorne's so called death and together with Carney's wife Jill, Patricia Knight, exposes Keane's plan to take over the D.A's office using the mobster Carney, whom Kane still thinks is still alive, to do it!
As ridicules brainless and confusing as it sounds "Roses are Red" turned out to be one of the biggest stinkers to be released in 1947 that hopefully has been long forgotten by everyone; mostly those still alive that were staring in it. Luckily it didn't destroy both Jeff Chandler and James Arness' careers who went on to do bigger and much better things like the top TV western series "Gunsmoke" and movies like "Broken Arrow". In fact both Chandler and Arness were later reunited in the 1951 boxing film "Iron Man" as heavyweight contenders "Coke" & "Alex".
It's then that Knockles one of Locke's enforcers steps in and takes the unconscious Carney-Who he thinks is D.A Thorne- and drives out in the country with Thorne-Whom he thinks is Carney- helping out in pushing the car off a cliff killing and burning Carney beyond recognition. Locke now feeling that D.A Thorne is no longer a danger it's Thorne's girlfriend news reporter Martha McCormack, Peggy Knudsen, who uncovers the truth about Thorne's so called death and together with Carney's wife Jill, Patricia Knight, exposes Keane's plan to take over the D.A's office using the mobster Carney, whom Kane still thinks is still alive, to do it!
As ridicules brainless and confusing as it sounds "Roses are Red" turned out to be one of the biggest stinkers to be released in 1947 that hopefully has been long forgotten by everyone; mostly those still alive that were staring in it. Luckily it didn't destroy both Jeff Chandler and James Arness' careers who went on to do bigger and much better things like the top TV western series "Gunsmoke" and movies like "Broken Arrow". In fact both Chandler and Arness were later reunited in the 1951 boxing film "Iron Man" as heavyweight contenders "Coke" & "Alex".
Really good little programmer.
gordonl5611 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This low renter is a surprisingly neat, well-done, doppelganger noir.
Don Castle has a dual role as crook, Don Carney, and District Attorney, Robert Thorne.
D.A. Castle is the new D.A. while look-a-like Castle has just gotten out of prison after a 2 year bit.
Local mob boss, Edward Keane, is being filled in about the D.A. by bent cop, Joe Sawyer. Sawyer says Castle will not play ball like the last D.A.
Keane has other problems at the moment. Henchmen, Douglas Fowley, is hinting that he is going to rat to the Law. He is not happy about a money split. Keane asks gunsel, Charles McGraw, to deal with the canary. "He won't be singing after tonight!"Responds McGraw.
That evening, McGraw's button man, Paul Guilfoyle, pumps a pair of rounds into Fowley. Problem over. Guilfoyle though, is a bit of a drunk, and he gets himself pinched for killing a barroom pick-up.
Now Guilfoyle is hinting he will talk to the law if the mob does get him out of jail. This will be his third strike and he does not intend to rot in jail. Boss Keane of course is not amused.
Meanwhile, Castle, the crook, is in the arms of his wife, Patricia Knight. Later, after some couch wrestling, he picks up the newspaper and sees the photo of the new District Attorney. Castle and Knight are both amazed by the picture. "This guy is me!" He sees dollar signs as he decides to pay mob boss Keane a visit.
The crook strolls in for a talk with Keane. He convinces Keane that he can play the D.A. Keane is all smiles as he plans to grab the D.A. and replace him with his man.
Keane sends Jeff Chandler, a bruno with the nickname, "Knuckles", out to grab the D.A. Chandler waits in the back seat of D.A. Castle's car. He cracks Castle on the head with a pistol butt, then drives the D.A. to a secluded house where he locks him is a secure room.
The next day, both Castles meet for the first time. The crook needs to study the D.A. in order to get his mannerisms down pat. Chandler is also kept handy in case the D.A. tries any funny business.
The District Attorney's office reports to the Police that Castle is missing. They are unable to find him. The Police figure he was unable to handle the pressure and has split town. His girl, Peggy Knudsen, a newspaper reporter, however smells a rat. She knows that Castle must be in trouble.
Several days later, while Chandler is out grabbing some food, the crook lets his guard down. The D.A. takes quick advantage of the situation and decks his double. He then changes clothes with the crook and props him up on the bed. And just in time too. Chandler has returned from his outing.
Chandler walks in, pulls his rod, and shoots the "wrong" Castle. He tells the D.A. to come. It is time for the mob's Castle to reappear. Chandler drives Castle to the edge of town and pushes Castle's car into a ravine. Chandler gives a solid punch to Castle's head laying him out. Chandler then uses a pay phone to call the Police about a car wreck he saw.
The next day, while in hospital, Castle explains his disappearance. He was kidnapped, and held by some unknown criminals. He had managed to escape but had crashed due to his weakened state. Castle does not mention the double. He can't be sure who else is on Keane's payroll.
Now Sawyer, the crooked cop, shows with orders for Castle from boss Keane. He is to arrange the release of Guilfoyle from jail. Keane wants Sawyer to pick Guilfoyle up at the jail for a fake trip to the dentist. Sawyer will then phony up an escape attempt by Guilfoyle, which will of course end with Guilfoyle's death. Problem solved.
Castle now gets hold of his girl, reporter Knudsen. He fills her in on what is going on. She tells him to go to the Police. Castle would rather wait till he can make a rock solid case before he brings in the Police. He says there might be more bent cops besides Sawyer. He has Knudsen bring in her brother, James Arness into the fold. Castle has a plan and needs some help he can trust.
Arness, and a couple of his army buddies, stop Sawyer at the point of a gun after he leaves the jail with Guilfoyle. They relieve Sawyer of his gun, and his passenger. Arness and company bring Guilfoyle to Knudsen's apartment where Castle is waiting. Castle fills Guilfoyle in on Keane's plan to have Sawyer deep six him. Guilfoyle agrees to turn states evidence on McGraw, Sawyer and Keane.
Castle returns to the office where a rattled Sawyer is waiting. "I lost Guilfoyle!" The pair are then interrupted by the dead Castle's wife, Patricia Knight. She waltzes over and starts swapping spit with Castle. "I've missed you honey."
Castle tells Knight she should return home and he will join her there. Castle has Sawyer drive her home. Once outside, Knight asks Sawyer, "what is going on?" "Did you guys pull another switch?" "That guy ain't my hubby."
Sawyer's eyes go wide as he listens to Knight. He shoves her in the car and floors it to boss Keane's place. Keane is equally surprised by Knight's information. His empire is starting to crumble. Loose ends need to be cut off. Soon McGraw and Sawyer are both pushing up daisies.
Castle though has more than enough evidence now to pinch Keane. Keane of course does not come quietly and a few pieces of lead are added to his wardrobe. (b/w)
Don Castle has a dual role as crook, Don Carney, and District Attorney, Robert Thorne.
D.A. Castle is the new D.A. while look-a-like Castle has just gotten out of prison after a 2 year bit.
Local mob boss, Edward Keane, is being filled in about the D.A. by bent cop, Joe Sawyer. Sawyer says Castle will not play ball like the last D.A.
Keane has other problems at the moment. Henchmen, Douglas Fowley, is hinting that he is going to rat to the Law. He is not happy about a money split. Keane asks gunsel, Charles McGraw, to deal with the canary. "He won't be singing after tonight!"Responds McGraw.
That evening, McGraw's button man, Paul Guilfoyle, pumps a pair of rounds into Fowley. Problem over. Guilfoyle though, is a bit of a drunk, and he gets himself pinched for killing a barroom pick-up.
Now Guilfoyle is hinting he will talk to the law if the mob does get him out of jail. This will be his third strike and he does not intend to rot in jail. Boss Keane of course is not amused.
Meanwhile, Castle, the crook, is in the arms of his wife, Patricia Knight. Later, after some couch wrestling, he picks up the newspaper and sees the photo of the new District Attorney. Castle and Knight are both amazed by the picture. "This guy is me!" He sees dollar signs as he decides to pay mob boss Keane a visit.
The crook strolls in for a talk with Keane. He convinces Keane that he can play the D.A. Keane is all smiles as he plans to grab the D.A. and replace him with his man.
Keane sends Jeff Chandler, a bruno with the nickname, "Knuckles", out to grab the D.A. Chandler waits in the back seat of D.A. Castle's car. He cracks Castle on the head with a pistol butt, then drives the D.A. to a secluded house where he locks him is a secure room.
The next day, both Castles meet for the first time. The crook needs to study the D.A. in order to get his mannerisms down pat. Chandler is also kept handy in case the D.A. tries any funny business.
The District Attorney's office reports to the Police that Castle is missing. They are unable to find him. The Police figure he was unable to handle the pressure and has split town. His girl, Peggy Knudsen, a newspaper reporter, however smells a rat. She knows that Castle must be in trouble.
Several days later, while Chandler is out grabbing some food, the crook lets his guard down. The D.A. takes quick advantage of the situation and decks his double. He then changes clothes with the crook and props him up on the bed. And just in time too. Chandler has returned from his outing.
Chandler walks in, pulls his rod, and shoots the "wrong" Castle. He tells the D.A. to come. It is time for the mob's Castle to reappear. Chandler drives Castle to the edge of town and pushes Castle's car into a ravine. Chandler gives a solid punch to Castle's head laying him out. Chandler then uses a pay phone to call the Police about a car wreck he saw.
The next day, while in hospital, Castle explains his disappearance. He was kidnapped, and held by some unknown criminals. He had managed to escape but had crashed due to his weakened state. Castle does not mention the double. He can't be sure who else is on Keane's payroll.
Now Sawyer, the crooked cop, shows with orders for Castle from boss Keane. He is to arrange the release of Guilfoyle from jail. Keane wants Sawyer to pick Guilfoyle up at the jail for a fake trip to the dentist. Sawyer will then phony up an escape attempt by Guilfoyle, which will of course end with Guilfoyle's death. Problem solved.
Castle now gets hold of his girl, reporter Knudsen. He fills her in on what is going on. She tells him to go to the Police. Castle would rather wait till he can make a rock solid case before he brings in the Police. He says there might be more bent cops besides Sawyer. He has Knudsen bring in her brother, James Arness into the fold. Castle has a plan and needs some help he can trust.
Arness, and a couple of his army buddies, stop Sawyer at the point of a gun after he leaves the jail with Guilfoyle. They relieve Sawyer of his gun, and his passenger. Arness and company bring Guilfoyle to Knudsen's apartment where Castle is waiting. Castle fills Guilfoyle in on Keane's plan to have Sawyer deep six him. Guilfoyle agrees to turn states evidence on McGraw, Sawyer and Keane.
Castle returns to the office where a rattled Sawyer is waiting. "I lost Guilfoyle!" The pair are then interrupted by the dead Castle's wife, Patricia Knight. She waltzes over and starts swapping spit with Castle. "I've missed you honey."
Castle tells Knight she should return home and he will join her there. Castle has Sawyer drive her home. Once outside, Knight asks Sawyer, "what is going on?" "Did you guys pull another switch?" "That guy ain't my hubby."
Sawyer's eyes go wide as he listens to Knight. He shoves her in the car and floors it to boss Keane's place. Keane is equally surprised by Knight's information. His empire is starting to crumble. Loose ends need to be cut off. Soon McGraw and Sawyer are both pushing up daisies.
Castle though has more than enough evidence now to pinch Keane. Keane of course does not come quietly and a few pieces of lead are added to his wardrobe. (b/w)
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