Gene O'Donnell, an actor active in the early to mid-20th century, made notable contributions to the horror genre with his performances in The Devil Bat (1940) and The Mad Ghoul (1943). His work in these films reflects the era's fascination with the macabre and the supernatural. In The Girl in Black Stockings (1957), O'Donnell further showcased his versatility, navigating the blend of mystery and erotic thriller. His roles in these cult classics highlight the unique charm and style of the period's cinema.
The Girl in Black Stockings
A lodge in Kanab, Utah, is where Los Angeles lawyer David Hewson goes for a peaceful vacation. He quickly is attracted to Beth Dixon, a switchboard operator and a former personal assistant to lodge owner Edmund Parry. The murder of playgirl Marsha Morgan, her throat cut, disrupts the peace and quiet. Sheriff Holmes begins the investigation, starting with the wheelchair-bound Parry, who admits to hating the dead woman, and Parry's possessive sister Julia, who helps him run the lodge. It turns out David once dated Morgan as well. A new guest, Joseph Felton, checks in. The sheriff's suspects also include guests Norman Grant, a drunken actor, and his ambitious girlfriend, Harriet Ames. A missing kitchen knife believed to be the murder weapon is found by Indian Joe, who works at the lodge. Beth eavesdrops on a phone call Felton makes from his room. She overhears him speaking to a man named Prentiss. Felton is later found killed by a gunshot, and it turns out he was a private detective. David becomes more and more convinced that the Parrys are behind all this. Ames is seen kissing Edmund Parry, which does not please Edmund's sister or Grant. To his shock, David arrives as Beth holds a knife to Julia Parry's bloody throat, claiming to have stabbed her in self-defense. It turns out, however, that Prentiss is Beth's husband and he had hired the investigator Felton to follow the psychologically disturbed Beth, who is responsible for all the murders.
