AllMovie

The Man Who Wouldn't Die is an enjoyable little mystery with splashes of horror. At just over an hour, it's definitely a "B" product, but that doesn't keep Man from being an agreeable way to pass the time. Man is part of the "Michael Shayne" films, a series of low-budget mysteries in which Lloyd Nolan portrayed a typically wise cracking private eye. Nolan is great fun in the role, providing a sardonic touch that never gets too heavy and punching the laugh lines with the right mixture of cynicism and playfulness. He doesn't shirk the dramatic chores, either, handling the action sequences with aplomb. The problem is that Nolan's character has been shoehorned into a story that was originally written without him, and the seams often show. The plot twists are frequently confusing, and a little too much has been thrown in for the film's short running time. Still, that doesn't seriously mar the enjoyment factor, and the supporting performances of Marjorie Weaver and Olin Howland also are assets. Cinematographer Joe MacDonald does a fine job of creating atmosphere, especially in one shot in which the killer's eyes emanate a mysterious glow.