Treasure Of Fear; Scared Stiff

2246. TREASURE Of FEAR (SCARED STIFF) (1945-USA). WITH JACK HALEY, ANN SAVAGE, BARTON MACLANE, VEDA ANN BORG, ROGER PRYOR. COMEDY AND SUSPENSE BLEND SEAMLESSLY IN THIS DIVERTING WHODUNIT, IT’S THE STORY Of LARRY ELLIOT, A NINCOMPOOPIC REPORTER WHO IS WELL ON HIS WAY TO WINNING THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR STUPIDITY. LARRY IS EMPLOYED ONLY THROUGH THE GENEROSITY Of HIS NEWSÂPAPER HONCHO UNCLE. AS USUAL, HE HAS BOTCHED YET ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT AND IS ABOUT TO BE FIRED. HE IS GIVEN ONE FINAL SHOT AT PROVING HIS JOURNALISTIC WORTH. OUR HERO BOARDS A BUS AND HEADS FOR GRAPE CITY, WHERE HE IS TO COVER A WINE FESTIVAL. IT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE ENOUGH JOB. ONLY LARRY STUMBLES ONTO A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SITUATION. TO BEGIN WITH, A MAN ON THE BUS IS MURDERED. THEN SOMEONE SWIPES THE CORPSE. QUITE LITERALLY, THERE’S A BUSLOAD Of SUSPECTS. AMONG THEM ARE A PAIR Of PRETTY BUT DEVIOUS WOMEN WITH HIDDEN AGENDAS (ATTRACTIVELY PLAYED BY NOTED CULT ACTRESSES ANN SAVAGE AND VEDA ANN BORG). THEY ARE FOLLOWED BY A COUPLE Of ECCENTRIC TWIN BROTHERS, NOT TO MENTION A NOTORIOUS BANK ROBBER-KILLER WHO HAS JUST ESCAPED FROM JAIL. LEST WE FORGET THAT LARRY IS A CHESS BUFF, AND AT THE CORE Of THE MYSTERY ARE SOME ANTIQUE JEWELED CHESS PIECES THAT KUBLA KHAN HAD GIVEN TO MARCO POLO IN THE 12TH CENTURY! 65 MINUTES. COMEDY