Three on a Ticket

A wounded private detective staggers into Michael Shayne's office and dies before anyone can question him. Shayne dives into the case anyway, drawn by a lone clue he can't ignore. A baggage tag and a bag of robbed loot point toward a tight web of suspects and concealed motives. With about fifty minutes of in film time to work with, Shayne pieces together fragments, checks alibis, and follows a trail of hints through a maze of lies. The goal is simple in theory recover the money and return it to its rightful owners, while staying one step ahead of danger. Phyllis Hamilton complicates the path as the clock ticks. Its brisk pace keeps tension high without overwhelming the plot.

Directed by Sam Newfield, this 1947 Michael Shayne mystery adapts Brett Halliday's creation with a script by Fred Myton, delivering a brisk, budget friendly detective thriller from the postwar, low budget era.

Box office data for Three on a Ticket is not widely documented, reflecting its status as a modest mid century crime caper from the B film tier. It played theaters primarily in drive-ins and grindhouse circuits.

Critical reception is sparse, with modern notes treating the film as a compact example of the Michael Shayne series. The film leans on timing and wit, exploring themes of justice versus motive and the pressure of time in a crime caper.