IMDb > Desperate (1947)

Desperate (1947) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

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6.8/10   880 votes »
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Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Anthony Mann
Writers:
Harry Essex (screenplay)
Martin Rackin (additional dialogue)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Desperate on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 May 1947 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
MURDER at any moment! SUSPENSE... in every step!!!
Plot:
A young married couple flee both police and a gangster out for revenge. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
Deadpan in Nulltown
 (From MUBI. 18 February 2013, 5:17 AM, PST)
Friday Noir: Overflowing with so much action and fine acting,’Desperate’ is anything but what its title suggests
 (From SoundOnSight. 16 March 2012, 8:10 PM, PDT)
Blu Monday: Apocalyptic Vampires, Gunslingers, a Barbarian, and a Talking Hamburger
 (From WeAreMovieGeeks.com. 31 July 2011, 9:00 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Best when cold See more (37 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Steve Brodie ... Steve Randall
Audrey Long ... Mrs. Anne Randall

Raymond Burr ... Walt Radak

Douglas Fowley ... Pete Lavitch, Private Eye
William Challee ... Reynolds
Jason Robards Sr. ... Det. Lt. Louie Ferrari (as Jason Robards)
Freddie Steele ... Shorty Abbott
Lee Frederick ... Joe Daly
Paul E. Burns ... Uncle Jan
Ilka Grüning ... Aunt Klara (as Ilka Gruning)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams ... Villager (uncredited)
Erville Alderson ... Simon Pringle (uncredited)
George Anderson ... Man on Train (uncredited)
William Bailey ... Traveling Salesman (uncredited)
Jack Baxley ... Dr. Wilson (uncredited)

Robert Bray ... Policeman with Lt. Ferrari (uncredited)
Kay Christopher ... Nurse (uncredited)
Robert Clarke ... Bus Driver (uncredited)
Grahame Covert ... Man (uncredited)
Dick Elliott ... Sheriff Hat Lewis (uncredited)
Charles Flynn ... State Trooper (uncredited)
Carol Forman ... Mrs. Henry Roberts (uncredited)
Ralf Harolde ... Walt's Doctor (uncredited)
Hans Herbert ... Rev. Alex Sorenson (uncredited)
Leza Holland ... Nurse (uncredited)
Teddy Infuhr ... Richard (uncredited)
Cy Kendall ... Ace Morgan (uncredited)
Carl Kent ... Detective (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ... News Vendor on Train (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee ... Mac (uncredited)
Glen Knight ... Truck Driver (uncredited)
Perc Launders ... Manny, Mountain City Trucking (uncredited)
Art Miles ... Truck Driver (uncredited)
Jay Norris ... Villager (uncredited)
Larry Nunn ... Al Radak (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor ... Train Conductor (uncredited)
Netta Packer ... Woman on Train (uncredited)
Eddie Parks ... Bill Frank (uncredited)
Joe Recht ... Bellhop (uncredited)
Marshall Ruth ... Traveling Salesman (uncredited)
Carl Saxe ... Policeman at Warehouse (uncredited)
Michael Visaroff ... Villager (uncredited)
Bill Wallace ... Policeman at Warehouse (uncredited)
Elena Warren ... Mrs. Oliver, Mountain City (uncredited)
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Directed by
Anthony Mann 
 
Writing credits
Harry Essex (screenplay)

Martin Rackin (additional dialogue)

Dorothy Atlas (story) and
Anthony Mann (story)

Produced by
Michael Kraike .... producer (as Michel Kraike)
 
Original Music by
Paul Sawtell 
 
Cinematography by
George E. Diskant (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Marston Fay 
 
Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino 
Walter E. Keller  (as Walter E.Keller)
 
Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nate Levinson .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Roy Granville .... sound
Earl A. Wolcott .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Russell A. Cully .... special effects
 
Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff .... musical director
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
73 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Spain:13 | USA:Approved (PCA #12132) | Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG (2011)
Filming Locations:
RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA
Company:
RKO Radio PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Goofs:
Miscellaneous: Ferrari and another policeman are right behind Steve when he re-enters the apartment house, but they're nowhere to be seen until after the shootout is over.See more »
Quotes:
Steve Randall:All you've got is me.
Walt Radak:[as the clock is ticking] Right now, you're all I want.
[He looks at it]
See more »

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
Best when cold, 17 May 2001
Author: John Greenwald (johnedit@bigfoot.com)

Conventional film noir melodrama is notable for ice black visuals and Raymond Burr's soft-spoken, hulking bad guy.

Film hurt by too-simple story, without the existential undertones that marked film noir at its best. But look of the film -- those rich shadows; creamy, sometimes violent whites; sharp camera angles and moving camera -- help a lot. Burr is a scary, almost psycho, but frighteningly low-keyed, bully boy.

Turner's print of RKO original looked great on TMC. Note how much it crams into about 75 minutes. I give it 6 out of 10.

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