Background to Danger (1943)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Eric Ambler (novel)
W.R. Burnett (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 July 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

Love in the midst of intrigue!

Plot:

Ankara in neutral Turkey : World War Two. A town of intrigue and of provocateurs. The Germans are planning...

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Turkey | Spy | WWII | Syria

Cast

George Raft	...	Joe Barton
Brenda Marshall	...	Tamara Zaleshoff
Sydney Greenstreet	...	Colonel Robinson
Peter Lorre	...	Nikolai Zaleshoff
Osa Massen	...	Ana Remzi
Turhan Bey	...	Hassan
Willard Robertson	...	'Mac' McNamara
Kurt Katch	...	Mailler

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Turkish | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #8833)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

This film is mentioned in Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" as the second in a double feature seen by Sal and Dean in a Detroit theater (chapter 11 of part three).

Quotes:

Nikolai Zaleshoff: How did you know the gun wasn't loaded?
Joe Barton: By its weight.
Nikolai Zaleshoff: There might have been one bullet in it.
Joe Barton: That's the chance I had to take.
Nikolai Zaleshoff: YOU had to take?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Warner at War (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South), Op.388

Has its moments, but overall a real disappointment....

Despite the breathtaking pace of the film and an excellently filmed car chase, BACKGROUND TO DANGER is a disappointment in many respects. Simply put, the story is too confusing and ridiculous for the film to gain any credibility. Even a great cast—and Brenda Marshall's pretty face—can't save this film!

BACKGROUND TO DANGER has the usual fast-paced direction by Raoul Walsh (WHITE HEAT, DESPERATE JOURNEY), terrific editing and black-and-white cinematography, and fine actors that include the likes of Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet, and Steven Geray. But George Raft will go down in history as one of the dullest leading men I've ever seen. The production values, as with so many Warner Bros. films of the era, are quite good. However, the story is an utter mess and makes little sense. Yet there are a lot of action scenes throughout the film and the action is the best part about the film.

Worth watching for the car chase alone, but since there are only a few good things about this film, it's pointless for me to continue.