From somewhere "back east," pretty blonde Anne Jeffreys (as Evelyn Smith) arrives on the Southern California coast to work for a US Senator. Because he is to receive some delicately "top secret" information about Nazis plotting a post-World War II comeback, Ms. Jeffreys is sent to the beach for a swim. Comely filling her striped bikini, Jeffreys attracts wolf whistles, a "Hubba, hubba!" and binoculars from handsome ex-Marine Lawrence Tierney (as Johnny Christopher). Changing into his bathing trunks, Mr. Tierney moves in for a closer look. Despite having a cute little dog "Bazooka" and a beefy frame, Tierney is rebuffed on the beach and Jeffreys goes home. Accidentally locked out of his car after his own swim, Tierney goes to the Senator's mansion to ask Jeffreys for help...

There, Tierney is told Jeffreys doesn't exist and is introduced to another blonde claiming to be the Senator's secretary...

Producer Sid Rogell's bottom-billed B-picture is intriguing and well-paced. No doubt "Step by Step" pleased many filmgoers more than whatever accompanied it on a double-feature or matinée. The plot is typically silly and melodramatically played, but never tries to be anything else. Veteran director Phil Rosen know the territory and moves it briskly. Paul Sawtell's soundtrack music appropriately evokes old Hollywood serials. Often cast as a hardened criminal, Tierney is fine as a hero –he should have been cast this way more often. He and "Bazooka" are a good team. Jeffreys is lovely. Leading the capable supporting characters is almost impossibly helpful ex-Marine motel manager George Cleveland (as Caleb Simpson). This is not a bad way to fill an hour, if you've got one.

******* Step by Step (8/23/46) Phil Rosen ~ Lawrence Tierney, Anne Jeffreys, George Cleveland, Phil Warren

In the late 1940s and into the 50s, Lawrence Tierney made a niche for himself starring in film noir pictures. His characters were cold, menacing and without remorse...exactly what you'd want in these sorts of movies. Sadly, while Tierney is in "Step By Step", it's not a noir film at all but a rather tired and uninteresting murder mystery involving neo-Nazis.

Johnny (Tierney) has recently returned from serving in the US military during WWII. He sees a very pretty lady, Evelyn Smith (Anne Jeffreys) and soon his lust for this woman draws him into a plot involving murder and post-war Nazis! It seems that Smith learned too much and was taken prisoner and they substituted her with another woman...and Johnny recognized the switch. However, he soon is himself accused of murder and he and the real Smith are sent on a wild chase by the authorities. Can goodness, Americanism and niceness prevail?!

This is a silly film with some bad clichés (such as the stranger that automatically believes the pair and helps them evade police). Not terrible...but also not very good and completely lacking in grit. Simply a B-movie...a B that came out a year too late considering its Nazi connection!

So declares Anne Jeffreys in this film noir adventure with elements of comedy where she becomes, along with Lawrence Tierney, involved in a murder after a situation with her politician boss that finds them obviously being spied upon. Jeffreys, taking a break when her boss sends her away, is spotted by tyranny who's friendly dog makes an introduction between the two, culminating in her disappearing from the Mansion she goes into and another secretary and politician being left in their place.

Thanks to a friendly inn keeper, George Cleveland, Tierney and Jeffreys are able to evade not only the mob that is after them but the cops as well. What exactly is going on? That's the subject of the mystery in this intriguing and briskly told 62 minute B film. A fast-paced and enough detail to keep the audience intrigued a death in being an above-average programmer. Lowell Gilmore and Myrna Dell are appropriately sinister as the bad guys.