Decoy

Decoy

Year: 1946

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Bernhard

CrimeThrillerCrime

She Treats Men the Way They’ve Been Treating Women for Years! A fatally shot female gangleader recounts her sordid life of crime to a police officer just before she dies.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Decoy (1946)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Decoy (1946). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The events unfold in the 1930s, a period marked by economic hardship and sensational crime stories. The plot features a murder linked to an armored car robbery and a hydrogen cyanide gas execution, reflecting the era’s attitudes toward crime and punishment. The story’s pace and twists fit the mood of Depression-era detective thrillers.

Location

Rural California, San Francisco, California

The action moves from a quiet rural California gas station to a tense San Francisco apartment. The rural locations provide isolation for the opening confrontation, while the urban setting heightens suspense during investigations and the pursuit of the hidden fortune. The film uses this contrast to drive the thriller forward across different environments.

🏞️ Rural 🌆 Urban settings

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:32

Main Characters – Decoy (1946)

Meet the key characters of Decoy (1946), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Frankie Olins (Robert Armstrong)

A condemned killer whose wealth and the fate of the missing money propel the plot. He embodies a calculating, dangerous presence that others try to exploit or outmaneuver. His apparent death becomes the catalyst for a string of schemes and betrayals that follow.

❌ Criminal 💰 Money 🧠 Cunning

Margot Shelby (Jean Gillie)

A former lover who escalates from romance to ruthless schemer. She engineers the illicit plan to revive Frankie and manipulates allies to locate the fortune, showing cold cunning and willingness to betray anyone. Her power games drive much of the film’s tension until her own downfall.

❌ Criminal 💃 Seduction 🧠 Schemer

Dr. Lloyd Craig (Herbert Rudley)

The prison physician drawn into Margot’s plot after being seduced. He facilitates the controversial revival using methylene blue, becoming a key instrument in the deception. His involvement becomes perilous as the scheme spirals and he becomes a target.

🧪 Science 🏥 Medical 🗡️ Betrayal

Jim Vincent (Edward Norris)

Margot’s new lover who helps pursue the missing money, but his ambitions lead to fatal consequences. He is willing to take part in danger and violence, ultimately meeting a violent end orchestrated by the other players.

⚔️ Rivalry 💰 Money 🗡️ Murder

Detective Joe Portugal (Sheldon Leonard)

The investigator who interrogates Margot and pieces together the case. He embodies patience and methodical inquiry, guiding the audience through conflicting testimonies toward the truth. He ultimately confronts the evidence and confronts the killers.

🕵️ Detective 🧭 Investigation ⚖️ Justice

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:32

Major Themes – Decoy (1946)

Explore the central themes of Decoy (1946), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Deception

The plot hinges on calculated lies, double-crosses, and hidden motives as Margot schemes to recover the fortune. The cast of characters uses misdirection and manipulation to stay ahead of investigators. The detective’s inquiries piece together competing narratives, revealing truth only in fragments.

💰 Greed

The pursuit of Frankie's stolen money drives the action, drawing Margot, Jim, and others into dangerous schemes. Wealth becomes the currency that justifies betrayal and murder, leaving behind a hollow reward. The narrative shows how greed corrodes trust and fuels deadly risk.

🎭 Theatrics

The story unfolds with performative deception, as characters wear masks and stage events to manipulate others. The revival of Frankie after death adds a theatrical twist, blurring lines between life and illusion. The ending exposes the emptiness of the con and the price of living a lie.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:32

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Fatalistic Noir Betrayal Movies Like Decoy

Where greed and cynical ambition poison every relationship, leading to downfall.If you liked the greedy schemes and fatalistic betrayals in Decoy, this list features movies with a similar dark noir vibe. These crime thrillers focus on cynical characters corrupted by ambition, fast-paced plots of double-crossing, and bleak endings that underscore the futility of their actions.

cynicalsinisterfatalisticanxiousgrittysuspensefulbetrayal

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow characters, often femme fatales or desperate criminals, as they execute complex, high-stakes plans. The plot is fueled by betrayal, where alliances are temporary and every character is ultimately out for themselves. The story structure often leads to an inevitable collapse, reinforcing a nihilistic message about the consequences of unchecked avarice.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core DNA of dark tone, high intensity, and a fast-paced plot centered on betrayal. They create a cohesive experience of tense, anxious suspense built on the premise that no one can be trusted, and ambition leads to ruin.

Gritty High-Stakes Crime Thrillers Similar to Decoy

Relentless, high-tension stories where ruthless characters execute dangerous schemes.For viewers who enjoyed the gritty suspense and high-stakes criminal plot of Decoy, this collection features similar fast-paced thrillers. These movies share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a tense atmosphere filled with violence and psychological manipulation, perfect for fans of ruthless crime dramas.

grittysuspensefultenseanxioussinisterruthlesshigh-stakes

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a central, dangerous scheme—such as a heist, a resurrection plot, or a power grab—that drives the action forward at a breakneck pace. Characters are often hardened and morally ambiguous, operating in a world where violence is a constant threat. The journey is one of rising tension and inevitable collision with the brutal realities of their choices.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared combination of a gritty aesthetic, a fast and relentless pacing, and a consistently high level of tension. They deliver a coherent viewing experience of anxiety and suspense, rooted in the realistic and high-stakes world of crime.

Unlock the Full Story of Decoy

Don't stop at just watching — explore Decoy in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Decoy is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Decoy Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Decoy, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Decoy Summary

Decoy Timeline

Track the full timeline of Decoy with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Decoy Timeline

Decoy Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Decoy that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Decoy Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Decoy

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Decoy: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Decoy

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