(1949)
1.5
Craig Butler
Arson Inc. is a strictly routine programmer, and not a particularly distinguished one at that. Of course, having been filmed in a mere seven days for the bargain basement price of about $60,000, Arson isn't expected to deliver the kind of quality of a big studio picture, and so one is happy to cut it some slack. Because of its "strictly B" origins, there's a willingness to forgive it its flaws, despite the fact that said flaws are significant. The script is a by-the-numbers affair, taking a character from column A, another from column B, and inserting them haphazardly into a plot from column C. In other words, this is not a film that is going to feature any major surprises. And yet there are a number of tiny moments that offer some rewards, a few glimpses into "real life" that make a modest little impact. And while Robert Lowery is, at best, adequate in the lead role, the kind of attractive but easily forgettable hero that populates any number of films of the era. But Douglas Fowley and Edward S. Brophy are fun in an over-the-top way, and that helps. There's naturally, entirely too much use of stock footage, but again, this is expected in a film of this type.
Arson Inc. on AllMovie
Arson Inc. (1949)
