For over two decades, suspense and mystery movies rated third in popularity among picturegoers to love stories and musicals. In fact, some very successful attempts were made to combine the three genres. "Casablanca", for instance. No, "Casablanca" is not included in this book. I covered that film in detail in "Memorable Films of the Forties". What I have attempted here, however, is an overview of the whole mystery-suspense genre, ranging from serials like "Secret Service in Darkest Africa" (disappointing, despite its enormous budget) and "Shadow of the Eagle" (not one of the most lively Mascots despite some really thrilling action in chapter 3 and the starring presence of John Wayne); Hitchcock masterpieces like "Saboteur", "Number 17", "The Lodger" and "Notorious"; personal favorites like "Secret Ways", "Jack of All Trades", "The Black Sheep of Whitehall", "Confession", "Daughter of Shanghai", "How Do You Do?", "Town on Trial", "Hangover Square", "Unpublished Story" and "The Midnight Man"; the worst film ever made, "Too Many Thieves", starring the most unpresentable, the most irritating and the most boring cinema detective of all time; and a line-up of classic film noir including "The Dark Corner", "Johnny Apollo", "Berlin Express", "Quick Millions" and "The Harder They Fall". Plus movies from all the most popular detectives including Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan, Nick Charles (the mis-named "Thin Man"), Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade and Miss Marple.