Two O'Clock Courage (1945)

After nearly running over him with her cab, Patty Mitchell picks up a fare who claims to have amnesia. As he fumbles to remember the basic facts of his identity, Patty becomes interested in... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Robert E. Kent (screenplay), Gelett Burgess (story),

Stars:

Tom Conway, Ann Rutherford, Richard Lane

Cast

Cast overview:
Tom Conway	...	Ted 'Step' Allison
Ann Rutherford	...	Patty Mitchell
Richard Lane	...	Al Haley
Lester Matthews	...	Mark Evans
Roland Drew	...	Steve Maitland
Emory Parnell	...	Insp. Bill Brenner
Jane Greer	...	Helen Carter (as Bettejane Greer)
Jean Brooks	...	Barbara Borden

Storyline

After nearly running over him with her cab, Patty Mitchell picks up a fare who claims to have amnesia. As he fumbles to remember the basic facts of his identity, Patty becomes interested in the stranger and decides to help him in his search. But as the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, and Patty's interest becomes more personal, the stranger finds that he is the prime suspect in a murder case.

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Plot Keywords:

suspect | amnesia | identity | search | murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Il coraggio delle due

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min 66 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Near the end, when the police attempt to enter room 212, three bullets are shot through the door from inside the room. After the police gain access and the door swings open, the holes are absent. when it then swings back to reveal Barbara Borden, the holes once again appear.

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Connections

References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

User Reviews

Straddles Two Genres

Catch that noirish opening—Ted (Conway) wandering around in the fog with an even bigger fog inside his head, not knowing who he is or where he came from. Good thing girl cabbie (it's still war time) Patty (Rutherford) helps him out since the cops think he's murdered someone. These look like classic elements of noir, especially with master of the genre Anthony Mann in charge. But this is early in his career when he was still doing programmers.

There may be some interest here for film historians since the movie appears to straddle two genres— the humorous murder mysteries of the 30"s and early 40's and the emerging noir crime dramas of the post-war period. Note how Mann uses a noirish close-up to dramatize Ted's recovering memory. Looks like his darker artistic side is looking for opportunities to surface.

Still, thick-headed cop (Parnell) and fast-talking reporter (Lane) remain anchored in Charlie Chan's and Falcon's of the earlier period. But however you cut it, the movie's still a fun diversion, with a bouncy Rutherford, a polished Conway, and a pay-me-by-the-word Lane. Just don't try to figure out the mystery. I lost track somewhere between the butler-did-it and the gorgeous Jane Greer's revealing gowns.