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The Reckless Moment

  • 19491949
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
James Mason and Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir
After discovering the dead body of her teenage daughter's lover, a housewife takes desperate measures to protect her family from scandal.After discovering the dead body of her teenage daughter's lover, a housewife takes desperate measures to protect her family from scandal.After discovering the dead body of her teenage daughter's lover, a housewife takes desperate measures to protect her family from scandal.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Max Ophüls
  • Writers
    • Henry Garson(screen play)
    • Robert Soderberg(screen play)
    • Mel Dinelli(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • James Mason
    • Joan Bennett
    • Geraldine Brooks
Top credits
  • Director
    • Max Ophüls
  • Writers
    • Henry Garson(screen play)
    • Robert Soderberg(screen play)
    • Mel Dinelli(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • James Mason
    • Joan Bennett
    • Geraldine Brooks
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos19

    The Reckless Moment (1949)
    James Mason and Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    Geraldine Brooks in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    James Mason and Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    James Mason and Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    James Mason and Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    The Reckless Moment (1949)
    The Reckless Moment (1949)
    James Mason and Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment (1949)
    The Reckless Moment (1949)
    Joan Bennett, Harry Harvey, and Norman Leavitt in The Reckless Moment (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Martin Donnellyas Martin Donnelly
    Joan Bennett
    Joan Bennett
    • Lucia Harperas Lucia Harper
    Geraldine Brooks
    Geraldine Brooks
    • Beatrice 'Bea' Harperas Beatrice 'Bea' Harper
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Tom Harperas Tom Harper
    Shepperd Strudwick
    Shepperd Strudwick
    • Ted Darbyas Ted Darby
    David Bair
    • David Harperas David Harper
    Roy Roberts
    Roy Roberts
    • Nagelas Nagel
    Jessie Arnold
    Jessie Arnold
    • Old Ladyas Old Lady
    • (uncredited)
    Al Bain
    Al Bain
    • Manas Man
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Baker
    • Manas Man
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Barton
    Pat Barton
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    • (uncredited)
    Holger Bendixen
    • Manas Man
    • (uncredited)
    Gail Bonney
    Gail Bonney
    • Womanas Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Department Store Customeras Department Store Customer
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Brocco
    Peter Brocco
    • Pete - Bartenderas Pete - Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    Paul E. Burns
    Paul E. Burns
    • Desk Clerkas Desk Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    John Butler
    John Butler
    • Pawnbrokeras Pawnbroker
    • (uncredited)
    Kathryn Card
    Kathryn Card
    • Mrs. Loringas Mrs. Loring
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Max Ophüls
    • Writers
      • Henry Garson(screen play)
      • Robert Soderberg(screen play)
      • Mel Dinelli(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the charming community of Balboa 50 miles from Los Angeles, middle-class housewife Lucia Harper travels to Los Angeles to meet scoundrel, Ted Darby. Her seventeen year-old daughter Beatrice is in love with Ted. He asks for money to leave Bea, but Lucia refuses to give any. Bea does not believe her mother when told and during the night she sneaks out to the boat garage to meet Ted who admits that Lucia told the truth. Bea pushes him and Ted falls to his on an anchor. The next morning, Lucia finds the body and assumes that Bea has killed her lover. She decides to get rid of the corpse and puts it in her boat and dumps it far from home. When the police find Ted, a stranger, Martin Donnelly, visits Lucia to blackmail her on behalf of his partner, Nagel who has several letters Bea had written to Ted. Donnelly wants $5000 for the letters. The desperate Lucia tries to raise the amount. Martin falls in love with Lucia and tries to help her too. The dangerous Nagel wants to receive the amount at any price. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • dead body on a beach
    • mother disapproves of boyfriend
    • getting away with murder
    • killing in self defense
    • three word title
    • 95 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • It could happen to so many married women !
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Film-Noir
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James Mason said that after Columbia refused to give director Max Ophüls the permission to light simultaneously two large and separate sets, and to allow a long dolly shot from one place to the other, he thought that "Ophüls could not smile anymore from this day."
    • Goofs
      During Lucia's motorboat ride to dump Ted Darby's dead body, just before she passes under a road bridge, the frothy bubbling wake in front of Lucia's speedboat can clearly be seen, which could only be coming from the vessel carrying the film crew and camera.
    • Quotes

      Martin: Hell is other people...

    • Connections
      Featured in Maternal Overdrive (2006)

    User reviews59

    Review
    Top review
    Carried along on the hem of a fleece
    Having first seen this gem on weekend matinee Tv many years ago, it was a welcome opportunity for a large screen viewing recently. I had most remembered the way in which Joan Bennett's coats were deployed, reflecting both the tempo and mood of each scene and this reminder did not disappoint. The billowing vents, an upturned collar and a tightly-fitted variation all work superbly as Joan Bennett steps into and out of cars, runs down steps or faces the hard-nosed characters who pepper this quiet post war non-noir caper.

    But this is not all. Interaction between the characters is extremely well done, particularly as each one has some relationship with Bennett and it is easy to believe that these would continue beyond the confines of the movie. The uncredited contribution of the family's black maid/housekeeper reflects some of the hidden agenda and the doubt and frustration that temporarily threatens the happy home. Wonderfully played by Frances Williams along with James Mason's strong, although worried character Joan Bennett's coat tails were never better supported.
    helpful•7
    4
    • MarkDain
    • Jan 9, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 1949 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Blank Wall
    • Filming locations
      • Balboa, Newport Beach, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walter Wanger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $882,653 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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