Dangerous (1935)

An alcoholic actress who is considered a dangerous jinx is rehabilitated, but she then shows that she's as dangerous as ever.

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Laird Doyle (story), Laird Doyle (screen play)

Stars:

Bette Davis, Franchot Tone, Margaret Lindsay

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Joyce Heath
Franchot Tone	...	Don Bellows
Margaret Lindsay	...	Gail Armitage
Alison Skipworth	...	Mrs. Williams
John Eldredge	...	Gordon Heath
Dick Foran	...	Teddy
Walter Walker	...	Roger Farnsworth
Richard Carle	...	Pitt Hanley
George Irving	...	Charles Melton
Pierre Watkin	...	George Sheffield
Douglas Wood	...	Elmont
William B. Davidson	...	Reed Walsh (as William Davidson)

Storyline

Dan Bellows finds former stage star Joyce Heath a penniless drunk and takes her to his Connecticut home for rehabilitation. Unaware that she is married to Gordon, he asks his fiancée Gail to free him and offers to sponsor Joyce in a play. When Gordon refuses to give Joyce a divorce, she runs the car into a tree crippling him for life. Joyce urges Dan return to Gail, opens her play, and begs Gordon for forgiveness.

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Plot Keywords:

car accident | selfishness | attempted suicide | theatre | love triangle | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bette Davis initially turned down the part that would win her the Oscar, but Warner's production chief Hal B. Wallis convinced her the role could be made into something special.

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Goofs

After waking up in Don's country house, Joyce sits down in a chair after berating him, and goes to pour a drink for herself twice between shots.

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Quotes

Joyce Heath: [to Gordon] Oh, you cheap, petty bookkeeper, you! Every time I think of those soft, sticky hands of yours even touch me it makes me sick. Sick, do you hear? You're everything that's repulsive to me. Your wife! I've never been a wife to you, you poor simpering fool. If you had any pride, if you were a man instead of a drooling milksop, you'd throw me out and be ashamed you admitted you ever married me.
[Slaps him]

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Connections

Featured in American Masters: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008)

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Soundtracks

Oh, Moon
(uncredited)
Music by Bernice Petkere

User Reviews

Davis and Tone Shine in Melodrama

So let her be flamboyant, if she wants to be. She had audiences riveted to their seats in 1935 with this strong performance.

How remarkable today, in 2000, that this 65-year-old portrayl can still hypnotize. It is solid Bette Davis work, with Franchot Tone lending fine support in every scene.

This legendary actress may chew a bit of scenery here and there, but then that's what makes her work so distinctive: here's a real personality, a star, who puts it all out there. She doesn't apologize either. . . just let's it all hang out and, if you like it, fine--if not, tis no big deal. She seems to have been a born actress, too -- with her style the opposite of the Method. Go on and indicate emotion when you're not up to drawing a sincere response. Keep folks wondering where the real Davis begins and the posing one leaves off. You're so good a what you do, you don't need to worry. . . your fans will lap it up anyway.

Which they did, by the millions. Davis was recently voted the number one film actress of the 20th century in a popular poll by moviegoers. That speaks legions about how her work, after all these years, is still regarded. ###

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hard Luck Dame

Filming Locations:

Cedars of Lebanon Hospital - 4833 Fountain Avenue, East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1