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Pitfall (1948)

7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 480 users  
Reviews: 15 user | 15 critic

John Forbes is a family man who's tired of the 9 to 5 humdrum of his job an insurance company executive. Life gets a little more exciting for him when he calls upon femme fatale Mona ... See full summary »

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Writers:

(novel), (screen play), 2 more credits »
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Title: Pitfall (1948)

Pitfall (1948) on IMDb 7.1/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
John Forbes
...
Mona Stevens
...
Sue Forbes
...
J.B. MacDonald
...
District Attorney
...
Bill Smiley
Jimmy Hunt ...
Tommy Forbes
...
Maggie
Selmer Jackson ...
Ed Brawley
Margaret Wells ...
Terry
Dick Wessel ...
Desk Sergeant
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Storyline

John Forbes is a family man who's tired of the 9 to 5 humdrum of his job an insurance company executive. Life gets a little more exciting for him when he calls upon femme fatale Mona Stevens. Her boyfriend has robbed a store insured by Forbes' company and has showered her with gifts using the loot. Forbes comes to collect the ill-gotten gifts, but the boyfriend is in jail, and Forbes falls hard for Mona and begins an affair. The only problem is that MacDonald, a private dick who freelances for the insurance company, has had his eyes on Mona first. The obsessed MacDonald turns the soon-to-be-released boyfriend against Forbes. Written by Martin Lewison <lewison+@pitt.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

A man can be as strong as steel...but somewhere there's a woman who'll break him! See more »

Genres:

Film-Noir

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

24 August 1948 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Caminho da Tentação  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on November 8, 1948 with Dick Powell, Jane Wyatt and Lizabeth Scott reprising their film roles. See more »

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User Reviews

 
Dick Powell's Fine Noir Edge Hits Mark
29 October 2002 | by (Forestville, Ca) – See all my reviews

I am always amazed at Dick Powell's transition from bouyant singing star into the shadows and uncertainties of noir classics. He's absolutely delightful in the former -- and gives joy and heart to the songs he's given. Confident, good-looking, he seems to be laughing at life. In PITFALL -- it's as if his bubble has been burst -- the "perfect" home, job, family and friends have become simply routine in his mind. By venturing into the world of beautiful loser (as far as men are concerned) Lizbeth Scott -- Powell's wanderlust is satisfied only to find he's opened a "can of worms". Powell, Wyatt, Scott and Raymond Burr are effective and believable -- and the film is paced, photographed, and scripted with intelligence -- so that the viewer easily goes along for the ride. Powell's talent as an actor is underscored here. As his outlook on things changes he redefines "what he's had all along" with an underplayed, yet genuinely felt appreciation. Burr is especially chilling as the obsessed detective sent to get the goods on Lizbeth Scott. Kudos to de Toth.


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