The Mugger

The Mugger is a 1958 American film noir-crime film about a police psychiatrist who is attempting to catch a mysterious mugger that has been attacking women in his city, stealing their purses and slashing their left cheek. The film is a police procedural in structure, focusing on psychiatrist Dr. Pete Graham's investigation into the title character's identity.[1]

The Mugger
Directed by	William Berke
Screenplay by	Henry Kane
Based on	The Mugger (novel) by Ed McBain
Produced by	William Berke
Starring	Kent Smith Nan Martin James Franciscus
Cinematography	J. Burgi Contner
Edited by	Everett Sutherland
Music by	Albert Glasser
Production company	Barbizon Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	November 1958 (1958-11)
Running time	74 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film's screenplay, written by Henry Kane, is based on the novel of the same name by Evan Hunter (writing under the pen name Ed McBain). William Berke directed the film, the second of two adaptions of Hunter's 87th Precinct novels he released in 1958 (following Cop Hater). It was Berke's final completed film as a director; he died the same year.[2]

It was filmed in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York. Several of the car scenes were filmed on the Belt Parkway. The Veterans Hospital located on the Fort Hamilton Army Base with no Verazzano Bridge can be seen during the first car scene. The restaurant scene was filmed on 67th Street and 4th Avenue right next to the subway exit. Other Bay Ridge locations can be seen throughout the film as well.