Jigsaw | 1949 | Film Noir | Crime | Mystery

Jigsaw (1949) When the pieces fall into place… murder is the picture Director: Fletcher Markle Writers: John Roeburt (original story), Fletcher Markle (screenplay) Stars: Franchot Tone, Jean Wallace, Marc Lawrence, Myron McCormick Production: Tower Pictures Runtime: 72 minutes Country: United States Language: English Genres: Film Noir, Crime, Mystery --- 🧾 Synopsis After a printer is murdered while investigating a hate group’s ties to big business, a fearless assistant district attorney follows the trail through a labyrinth of corruption, political intrigue, and racist propaganda. As he peels back each layer, he uncovers a vast network of powerful conspirators—each more dangerous than the last. --- ⚔️ Key Themes & Highlights A noir procedural tackling racism and hate speech in postwar America. Strong anti-fascist undertone, rare for its time. Clever use of montage and symbolic imagery to represent the "pieces" of the case. Features a host of cameos, including appearances by Marlene Dietrich, Henry Fonda, and Burgess Meredith. Reflects postwar anxieties about extremism and social division. --- 🧠 Trivia Despite its low budget, Jigsaw punches above its weight with clever editing and narrative structure. The film’s title refers both to the nature of the case and to actual jigsaw puzzle imagery used throughout. Henry Fonda’s cameo was unpaid—he did it as a favor to director Fletcher Markle. The movie was considered controversial at the time due to its depiction of white supremacist groups and their infiltration into legitimate institutions. Director Fletcher Markle was Orson Welles’ protégé, and the influence shows in the film’s style and structure. --- #Hashtags #Jigsaw1949 #FilmNoir #AntiFascistCinema #FranchotTone #CameoPacked #RacismInFilm #PostwarMystery #NoirDetective #FletcherMarkle #ClassicCrime #VintageNoir #JeanWallace #JigsawPuzzleNarrative #CultCinema #HiddenGems1940s