| After his niece Polly dies from a mysterious illness, Whitney Cameron (Cotten) pays a visit to his sister-in-law Lynne (Peters) to provide his condolences and a little comfort. However, Cameron feels something just isn't right. It seems Polly died in the same manner as her father, from an undetermined disease...one that mirrors the ugly & deadly effects of strychnine poisoning! But who would want both Polly and her father dead? Could the culprit be lovely Lynne? Could Cameron's demure sister-in-law really be a sociopathic murderess out to get the family inheritance?
Screen vet Cotten is a stalwart performer - he always delivers the most solid of work - but in Blueprint for Murder, it's Peters (ex-wife of Howard Hughes) that gives up the goods, yielding a delightful turn as the unequivocally sweet stepmother who also just might be a cold blooded killer.
It's a decent film noir thriller competently directed by Stone, tightly paced, leaving you guessing right up until the last minute (literally) of its running time. A bit of a shame Gary Merrill is underused here, but don't let that stop you from seeking out this early '50s psych sleeper.
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