Charles Herold (cherold)
In Cry Danger, a convict freed by five-years-late testimony goes free and starts poking around. A compact movie that wastes little time and has some amusing dialogue, Cry Danger is also rather slight. There aren't a lot of surprises or twists (if you don't know the ending you haven't seen much noir) and characters seem more plot devices than fully-developed people. Good performances by Dick Powell and Jean Porter and decent ones by everyone else.
moonspinner55
Engaging, compact crime meller has Dick Powell in excellent form as Rocky Mulloy, framed for a robbery and out of jail on parole after serving five years; he's being tailed by a Los Angeles police lieutenant, who thinks Rocky knows the whereabouts of the loot never retrieved from the heist. Powell is nearly upstaged by William Conrad as a slick, slimy bookie, the boss behind the job that sent both Rocky and a pal up the river. Supporting cast is pretty solid; only Rhonda Fleming misses the mark as Rocky's former-flame who married his partner (Fleming's general nature is too sweet for this scenario, and she looks too coiffed and glamorous to be living in a seedy neighborhood trailer park). Lots of delicious, overripe tough talk and an exciting finale, though it's a shame Rocky never gets to expose the bookmaker's flunkies, who pull a fast one on him with some hot racehorse dough. **1/2 from ****
edwagreen
Your average run of the mill film-noir with Dick Powell starring as a recently released prisoner, who comes home to try to prove that he was not involved in a robbery that killed someone and sent him up the river.Rhonda Fleming plays the almost-innocent wife of the guy who went to prison along with the Powell character. However, she isn't as innocent as she appears.As stated, the film is routine and there really isn't that much excitement involving the main characters, except that they escape death when another couple take the bullets intended for them.The ending is where Powell walks into the sunset as the police go to arrest Fleming.
filmalamosa
Have nothing to add except a novice's impression-- the other reviews cover it all.I found Rocky an uninspiring tough guy... his acting is wooden (another reviewer notes this)...and it takes a lot of talent to deliver corny one liners without it appearing ridiculous. The dialogue was actually not bad.Neither is he young nor good looking--mostly just boring reminds one of an insurance agent.The trailer park was fun to watch...1950 seediness.The 2 tonne Nash was fun too (how do the front wheels turn?)--part of the time machine effect.Film noir? Don't know that much about these terms but I was not expecting the ending of this film if that qualifies it.There were no unusual or artistic camera angles (that always adds interest) Still it is a film for adults---how many of those are made now? And it has the twist ending and of course there is the time machine part of it.Give it 6 starts.. A decent watch.
AD
