Where Danger Lives

Infobox Film
name = Where Danger Lives


caption = Theatrical poster
director = John Farrow
producer = Irving Cummings Jr.
writer = Screenplay:
Charles Bennett
Story:
Leo Rosen
starring = Robert Mitchum
Faith Domergue
music = Roy Webb
cinematography = Nicholas Musuraca
editing = Eda Warren
distributor = RKO Radio Pictures
released = July 14 1950
(U.S.A.)
runtime = 82 minutes
country = United States
language = English
amg_id = 1:11660
imdb_id = 0043131|

"Where Danger Lives" is a 1950 thriller directed by John Farrow. The film was actress Faith Domergue's film debut. At the time, she was the latest of Howard Hughes' protegees.

Plot

Margo (Faith Domergue) is the wife of Frederick Lannington (Claude Rains), an apparently sadistic elderly millionaire. Jeff Cameron (Robert Mitchum) is a man who falls in love with Margo when she was brought into a hospital after attempting suicide. He becomes romantically involved with her without knowing that she's married.

During a drunken confrontation with the jealous Frederick, the young doctor knocks the older man out and stumbles out of the room. When Jeff returns, he discovers that the man he hit is dead. Margo had smothered her husband during Cameron's absence, but she instead tells Jeff that he is the killer. The lovers flee to Mexico, where Jeff finally figures out that his crazy female companion is the real killer.

Cast

* Robert Mitchum as Dr. Jeff Cameron
* Faith Domergue as Margo Lannington
* Claude Rains as Frederick Lannington
* Maureen O'Sullivan as Julie Dawn
* Charles Kemper as Postville Police Chief
* Ralph Dumke as Klauber
* Billy House as Bogardus, Postville J.P.
* Harry Shannon as Dr. Maynard
* Philip Van Zandt as Milo DeLong
* Jack Kelly as Dr. James Mullenbach
* Lillian West as Mrs. Bogardus

Critical reception

Dave Kehr writing for the "Chicago Reader" wrote, "Director John Farrow nicely hits the nightmarish, hallucinatory qualities in this standard film noir plot: Mitchum spends the last half of the film barreling down the dirt roads of southern California with a brain concussion, passing out periodically and waking up surrounded by some of the bleakest scenery America has to offer." [ [http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/capsules/9239_WHERE_DANGER_LIVES Kehr, Dave] . Film review, "Chicago Reader," 1996-2008.]

Film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film, especially the work of Mitchum, and wrote, "Robert Mitchum is cast as a stable citizen, which goes against typecast..."Danger" is beautifully photographed by Nick Musuraca in the dark B&W style of "noir" and is ably directed by John Farrow, who successfully caught the nightmarish visions. It is interesting mostly as a character study of a capable man blinded by lust, whose life is almost destroyed. Mitchum is the innocent man who is framed and doesn't realize he is innocent until it is almost too late, recovering in the nick of time because he has such a strong character and will to live. Mitchum's convincing portrayal of the innocent man on the run, is what makes this melodrama compelling...The movie plays like a "noir cliché". But Mitchum saves the day, realistically showing how a swell guy and such a competent doctor could be so vulnerable. Claude Rains as always is magnificent, in a small part but one where his every gesture seems to be constrained in a maniacal rage ready to burst open. His touch of madness is best exemplified by his mischievous smile while meeting his wife's lover." [ [http://www.sover.net/~ozus/wheredangerlives.htm Schwartz, Dennis] . Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, November 17 2000. Last accessed: August 28 2008.]

British film critic Neil Young wrote, "Though inexplicably little-known these days, "Where Danger Lives" is an absolutely cracking little film noir with an appealingly absurd screwball edge. The main credit for which presumably belongs not to director Farrow (father of Mia), but to veteran scriptwriter Charles Bennett - whose screenplays for Hitchcock included "The 39 Steps", "Young and Innocent" and "Foreign Correspondent", and later wrote Jacques Tourneur's "Night of the Demon"." [ [http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/content/view/253/1 Young, Neil] . Neil young's Film Lounge, film review, November 8 2005. Last accessed: October 28 2008.]

Notable quote

* Margo Lannington: Noboby pities me!

References

Notes

External links

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* [http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2006/09/where-danger-lives-1950.html "Where Danger Lives"] at Film Noir of the Week
* [http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews32/film_noir_classic_collection_v4.htm "Where Danger Lives"] at DVD Beaver (includes images)
* [http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2365tens.html "Where Danger Lives"] at DVD Savant (includes synopsis)