Cry Danger (1951) – Classic Movie Review 209 – Classic Movie Review 209

Cry Danger (1951)

Hello to all of the classic people that are returning, I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. As a technical note, references and citations are listed for each show on the site at classicmovierev.com. Today on the Classic Movie Reviews Podcast, we are taking on Cry Danger (1951).

This Film-Noir has a 7.3 rating on iMDB.com[1]. The film has a pretty decent audience approval of 82 percent on rottentomatoes.com[2]. On February 22, 1951, New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther said of the film:

Looking for excitement and suspense? And perhaps a few laughs, too? Then accept this recommendation to a very tidy package of fictional extravagance called “Cry Danger.” The place is the Paramount Theatre. Usually, you don’t find much occasion for laughter in a picture that is concerned with revenge and murder. But in “Cry Danger” scenarist William Bowers has found room for some sardonic lines that are tossed off most effectively by a young actor named Richard Erdman, who has been around Hollywood since 1943—just waiting for the right chance, no doubt, “Cry Danger” gives it to Mr. Erdman and he makes the most of it in the role of an unscrupulous ex-marine with a wooden leg who is interested in turning an easy dollar. … Dick Powell plays Mulloy with an air of cocky toughness that inspires confidence in his ability to run down the sleazy characters who fingered him as the fall guy for a big robbery and murder rap.[3]

This movie is a lot better than the rating. Richard Erdman does a pretty good job as the co-star, and Dick Powell is not very stiff. The Femme Fatales, played by Rhonda Fleming and Jean Porter, are exciting and contribute to the plot. Three actors make the great supporting cast, and they are Jay Adler, Regis Toomey, and William Conrad. Ah, Jake and the Fat Man.

So, let’s get going with this very good and tightly written Film-Noir.

Actors – Cry Danger (1951)

Returning

Rhonda Fleming played the role of Nancy, wife of a man in prison for robbery. Fleming was first covered in the great Film-Noir Out of the Past (1947).

Richard Erdman had a sizable role as Delong, a former Marine with a wooden leg. Usually known for supporting roles, Erdman was covered in The Blue Gardenia (1953) and was fantastic in Stalag 17 (1953).

Regis Toomey played Cobb; a policeman determined to solve the armed robbery of five years prior. Toomey was first covered in another great Film-Noir, The Big Sleep (1946).

Jay Adler played Williams, the ukulele-playing manager of a Los Angeles trailer court. This wonderful actor was first covered in 99 River Street (1953).

New

Dick Powell played Rocky, a guy that spent 5-years in jail for a crime he never committed. Powell was born in Arkansas in 1904[4]. Powell worked his way through school, including attending Little Rock College, now UALR. He took a job singing and playing with the Royal Peacock Orchestra in Louisville[5]. He later toured with the Charlie Daniels Orchestra, not to be confused with the Charlie Daniels Band.

Powell moved to Pittsburg, where he made a good living as a master of ceremonies. Impressed by his singing and stage presence, Warner Bros. gave Powell a contract in 1932. Powell generally looked younger than his age and was thus used in light musicals and comedies. These movies include 42nd Street (1933), Footlight Parade (1933), Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935), The Singing Marine (1937), In the Navy (1941) with Abbott and Costello, and the flop Meet the People (1944).

Although he was very successful, Powell wanted more from his film career. Powell tried unsuccessfully to get the lead role in Double Indemnity (1944), Powell was cast, and did very well, in a number of career-changing Film-Noirs. These include Murder, My Sweet (1944), Cornered (1945), Johnny O’Clock (1947), Pitfall (1948), and To the Ends of the Earth (1948). He was successful in other genres in films like The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). He also directed six films, including Film Noir Split Second (1953). Another film he directed was the great submarine versus destroyer battle film, The Enemy Below (1957). This movie starred Film Noir veteran Robert Mitchum as the destroyer captain and Curd Jürgens as the U-boat skipper. Powell was also successful on radio and television.

Sadly, Powell died at the early age of 58 in 1963. This is possibly the result of exposure to radiation while filming The Conqueror (1956)[6] or chronic smoking or a combination of the two. I was surprised to find out that Powell actually sold the sailboat Santana to Humphrey Bogart.

William Conrad played Castro, an up-and-coming gangster. Conrad was born in 1920 in Kentucky. Conrad’s deep and resonating voice led him to work on radio and eventually participate in over 7,500 programs.

In World War II, he flew fighters for the US Army Air Corps. He began getting film work after the war. Conrad was a larger man, and he was given roles as a heavy. See what I did there. He was one of the hitmen in The Killers (1946), a fight promoter in Body and Soul (1947), a hood in Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), a corrupt inspector in The Racket (1951), a connected hood in Cry Danger (1951), and a commissioner in The Naked Jungle (1954). He was in a top contender for the worst movie ever, The Conqueror (1956). However, he was not affected by the curse mentioned above and in the Dark Passage (1947) review.

He was active in radio also bring such characters to life as Marshal Matt Dillion on radio’s “Gunsmoke” 1952-1961. However, this did not result in him being cast in the television role. He also used his voice for movie narration in films like Battle of the Bulge (1965).

Conrad moved his career towards directing and production and was very successful. He had a few television series and is most famous for playing detective Frank Cannon in “Cannon” 1971-1976. However, it more fun to talk about his role as district attorney J.L. McCabe in “Jake and the Fatman” 1987–1992. I couldn’t make this stuff up. Conrad died in 1994 from heart failure.

Jean Porter played perky Darlene, a kleptomaniacal pickpocket, who was a ball of fun. Porter was born in Texas in 1922. Of course, she was. She worked a bit in vaudeville before landing her first uncredited film role in 1939 at the age of 17. She worked her way up as a wholesome girl in B-movie. With the exception of Cry Danger (1951), her films were mostly soft fare, such as Heart of the Rio Grande (1942), Home in Wyomin’ (1942), The Youngest Profession (1943), Andy Hardy’s Blonde Trouble (1944), Betty Co-Ed (1946), Sweet Genevieve (1947), Little Miss Broadway (1947), Easy to Wed (1946), and Till the End of Time (1946). During the filming of the last movie, she met and later married director Edward Dmytryk.

They weren’t married for long before the un-American House Unamerican Activities Committee branded Dmytryk a communist. He was one of the Hollywood Ten. Porter and her family moved to England, where she and her husband could work. They returned to American in 1951, and following a short stay in jail, Dmytryk was again allowed to work. Dmytryk directed Porter in The Left Hand of God (1955), which turned out to be her last film. The couple was married until Dmytryk died in 1999. Porter died in 2018.

Story – Cry Danger (1951)

As the credit’s role, a train speeds through the mountains on the way to Los Angeles. Rocky (Dick Powell) exits the train in LA and soon tailed by two men; police detective Cobb (Regis Toomey) and ex-Marine Delong (Richard Erdman). When he exits the station, a newspaper seller gives him a free copy of the paper because he is on the front page. The banner reads, “ROCKY MULLOY FREED FROM LIFE TERM.” It later says ex-Marine testimony freed Rocky. Rocky has been away for 5-years.

Outside Cobb calls to Rocky. Rocky is a little bitter about being locked away for 5-years. Delong, the ex-Marine says it is good to see you again. Rocky says he owes DeLong plenty. Cobb says he will buy the men drinks. As they leave, the newspaper seller makes a phone call, presumably reporting on the activity.

In the bar, Rocky expresses to Cobb again that he is bitter. Rocky said he was drinking with some Marine’s when the holdup occurred. DeLong says he was shipped out the next day and has just now returned from the war, minus a leg. Danny Morgan, Rocky’s alleged partner, is still doing time for the robbery. Cobb asks about the missing $100,000 from the robbery. Cobb says he will be tailing him 24/7.

After Cobb leaves, Rocky and DeLong continue to talk. DeLong admits he was not one of the Marine’s that Rocky was out with that night. DeLong says his service dates fit, and he could make the alibi. DeLong says he wants a cut of the money that is still missing. Rocky says again he didn’t do it. But he does know who did. DeLong says he is going to stick around.

They drive to a trailer court where they will meet Danny’s wife. When they pull in, they meet the very friendly Darlene (Jean Porter), who is out sunning herself. Rocky goes to find the manager of the court Williams (Jay Adler). He rents a trailer for himself and DeLong. It is a dump even among the other trailers. Williams recognizes Rocky and says he wants no trouble. Williams tells that Danny’s wife, Nancy (Rhonda Fleming), lives in Trailer 8 but works across town and won’t be back for a while.

Rocky, DeLong, and Darlene wait outside while DeLong tries to get Darlene to go to a bar with him. Darlene wants to call a girl for Rocky, but Rocky is mission-oriented. DeLong and Darlene leave. Williams comes out and said a cop has been asking questions, and he doesn’t want trouble. Nancy comes in from work. Nancy takes Rocky to her nice trailer and cooks him a nice meal. She asks about the health of her husband. Rocky’s goal is to clear Danny. Nancy seems to think Rocky and Danny were involved in the robbery. Just as they are getting close to kissing, DeLong drunkenly drives his car into the trash cans.

DeLong says that Darlene tried to clip his wallet when he was drunk. He beat up the bartender. Rocky takes a .45 automatic from DeLong. Rocky heads out, and the cops are already at the trailer court. Rocky tells the cops that DeLong wants to file charges against Darlene. Rocky drives away in the car while Nancy watches from the shadows.

Rocky drives to the bar Los Amigos and tells the lot attendant that a cop will be looking for him. Rocky gives the bartender, not the one DeLong knocked out, a $10 tip to not buzz Castro (William Conrad) that he is coming up. The bartender keeps the money but says Castro is expecting him. Rocky goes upstairs to Castro’s office. Castro is seated behind a desk. Castro sees the gun Rocky is carrying. Rocky moves him from behind the desk. Rocky says he wants $50,000, as that is what he was offered to drive the car for the robbery. He didn’t take the job but was treated as if he had. Rocky says he will kill Castro if he doesn’t get the money. Castro offered to set him up as a bookie.

Castro gives Rocky $500 and says to put it on a horse named Dragonfly. Castro says he is a big man now and is not scared. He tells Rocky to call him in the morning. Cobb is waiting downstairs when Rocky leaves. They sit on the shine stand and have a talk. Rocky says he wants Cobb to be everywhere he goes.

Rocky returns to the trailer park and someone fires a shot at his head. DeLong comes out in his PJs while Rocky sneaks around the court, looking for the shooter. Rocky lies in bed smoking as he tries to figure it all out. DeLong had a drink with Nancy, and he now knows that Rocky and Nancy are in love.

In the morning, Darlene and DeLong have reconciled. Rocky goes to drink coffee with Nancy. Danny had told Rocky to leave the investigation alone. Nancy wants to help Rocky, but he sends her to work. Rocky goes to an apartment building where he looks up Alice Fletcher (Joan Banks). He wants to talk to her husband, who identified him as one of the robbers. But her husband has died two years before. Alice tells Rocky that her husband received $5,000 cash around the time of trial. She puts the hooks on Rocky, but he asks to use the telephone. He calls Castro and asks where to place the bet. After the call, she throws him out, so now he knows Castro was the man that paid her husband to lie on the witness stand.

Rocky heads to the hotel, where Castro told him to place the bet. He drops the bet off with a very attractive young lady (Gloria Saunders) who tries to put the hooks on him. Rocky listens to the race in Castro’s office. Dragonfly wins the race. Rocky goes to the deli where he was told to pick up the money from the race. The bookie pays Rocky 4 grand.

Rocky comes back to the trailer and gives some gifts and money to DeLong. DeLong says that Nancy doesn’t care about Rocky and is only concerned with what he might stir up. That night, Nancy, Rocky, Darlene, and DeLong go out on the town. Cobb is right there watching. Nancy and Rocky dance the night away. Cobb comes to the table and talks about how much money Rocky had spent. He has the bills that Rocky has spent and says he came from the robbery. Darlene has already picked DeLong’s pocket. Rocky tells the entire story about the bet and the money from Castro.

Rocky and Cobb go to the deli, and there is no bookie, and the wall where the room was is sealed. They go to the hotel, and pretty girl has been replaced by another lady (Kathleen Freeman) who says she has been there all day. They check the first girl’s room, and there is a different couple living there.

They go to the police station. Cobb places a call to Castro. Castro says he didn’t even know Rocky was in town. Cobb knows that Castro lied because he saw Rocky go upstairs.

Castro goes home to his apartment, and Rocky clubs him in the head when he walks in. He then pours water and flowers on Castro’s face. Rocky tells that Cobb is looking to Castro now. Rocky says he wants $100,000 know. Castro says he will have it by the morning. He stands Castro up and then slugs him back down. Castro makes a call.

Rocky returns to the trailer court. Two men are waiting across the street to shoot Rocky with a shotgun. Nancy, Darlene, and DeLong are in Nancy’s trailer. Darlene and DeLong head out to get another drink. He leaves most of his money with Rocky and gives Darlene his drinking money to carry.

Nancy starts giving Rocky the business about trying to find the money. The gunmen open up on the car carrying Darlene and DeLong. He is hurt, and she is dead. The cops saw the shooting but could not stop it. Nancy freaks out about the killing.

DeLong is laid up in the hospital with a broken arm. DeLong warns Rocky to lay back. When DeLong asks to see Cobb, the officer wants to know if it is about the phony alibi he gave for Rocky. The police knew all the time that it was fake.

Nancy, Rocky, and Castro are all taken to Cobb’s office. Cobb is rough on all three of the suspects. Cobb doesn’t have any evidence to hold them. He also says Danny will not get parole with this going on. Cobb tells Rocky he is pulling the tail off of him.

Rocky and Nancy take a taxi to the trailer court, and Rocky picks up the .45 before he leaves. Nancy begins pledging her love. But Rocky leaves anyway. Castro leaves the police station, and Rocky kidnaps him. They go back to Castro’s office. Rocky makes Castro lay on the top of his desk. Rocky puts one bullet in Castro’s revolver. He clicks one chamber at Castro’s head. Castro starts talking about the money. Rocky spends the chamber and pulls the trigger two more times.

Finally, Castro tells that Danny pulled the job. Danny was identified by Fuller, but Castro paid him $5,000 to frame Rocky. Castro also says that Nancy has the other half of the money, and she fired the first shot at Rocky. Rocky tells Castro to call Cobb. Castro dials the number where the two hoods that shot up DeLong and Darlene are waiting. Rocky then says, let’s really call Cobb now.

The two thugs shoot it out with the cops and get killed. Cobb and the cops come in. Rocky tells Cobb that half of the money is in the safe under the desk. He also says he doesn’t know where the other money is located.

Rocky goes back to Nancy’s trailer and says Castro is looking to kill him. Nancy wants to go along with Rocky. Finally, Nancy tells Rocky that she has the $50,000 in the basement of the old house. Rocky can’t believe she let him go away for 5-years. They say that they are still in love and are going away together. However, the look on Rocky’s face tells another story.

Cobb is waiting outside. Rocky tells where the money is and says, go ahead and arrest Nancy. He walks away alone, feeling rotten.

Summary – Cry Danger (1951)

The definition of a Femme Fatale is an attractive and seductive woman, especially one who will ultimately bring disaster to a man who becomes involved with her. The women in this film don’t exactly fall clearly into that definition.

I will begin with Darlene, who was played by Jean Porter. She was certainly an attractive and seductive woman. She also had a tendency to relieve men of the burden of having money. In this film, that seemed to be the extent of the damage she would do to men that were attracted to her. Other than that, she was always in for a good time. So, Darlene does not appear to be a Femme Fatale.

Nancy, played by Rhonda Fleming, certainly meets the criteria of a Femme Fatale in the last half of the movie, following the murder of Darlene. She was more than willing to seduce Rocky, although he remained loyal to her husband and his fellow prisoner. She was certainly working with Castro the entire time, and she had been involved in the set-up of Rocky to protect her husband. After she realized she could have been killed instead of Darlene and her “friends” were not looking out for her, she became a full-on Femme Fatale and tried to use Rocky to save herself.

World-Famous Short Summary – A pretty face don’t mean no pretty heart

Beware the moors.

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[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043435/
[2] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cry_danger
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/1951/02/22/archives/the-screen-3-new-movies-at-local-theatres-13th-letter-fox-film.html
[4] https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694090/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Powell
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conqueror_(1956_film)