Where Danger Lives (1950)

A young doctor falls in love with a disturbed young woman, becomes involved in the death of her husband, and has to flee with her to the Mexican border.

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

Charles Bennett (screenplay), Leo Rosten (story)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Claude Rains, Faith Domergue

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Mitchum	...	Jeff Cameron
Faith Domergue	...	Margo
Claude Rains	...	Mr. Lannington
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Julie
Charles Kemper	...	Police Chief
Ralph Dumke	...	Klauber
Billy House	...	Mr. Bogardus
Harry Shannon	...	Dr. Maynard
Philip Van Zandt	...	Milo DeLong
Jack Kelly	...	Dr. Mullenbach
Lillian West	...	Mrs. Bogardus

Storyline

One night at the hospital, young doctor Jeff Cameron meets Margo, who's brought in after a suicide attempt. He quickly falls for her and they become romantically involved, but it turns out that Margo is married. At a confrontation, Margo's husband is killed and Jeff and Margo flee. Heading for Mexico, they try to outrun the law.

---

Plot Keywords:

concussion | asleep at the wheel | doctor | nurse | suicide attempt | 

---

Taglines:

She's tempting to look at - dangerous to know!

---

Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

8 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

White Rose for Julie

Filming Locations:

Palmdale, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures, Westwood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Feature film debut of Faith Domergue.

---

Quotes

Mr. Lannington: So you're quite sure of your feelings? I mean, you know, people sometimes get... carried away. Come to their senses again with a jolt.
Jeff Cameron: Mr. Lannington, I want to marry your daughter.
Mr. Lannington: I wish you'd stop calling her my daughter. She happens to be my wife.

---

Connections

Featured in Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie (2007)

---

Soundtracks

You May Not Remember
(uncredited)
Music by Ben Oakland
Lyrics by George Jessel

User Reviews

Fine Acting, Great Cinematography

I really liked this movie. Faith Domergue is perfect as the scheming psychotic femme fatale. Claude Rains is excellent as her suave, slimy husband. And Robert Mitchum once again demonstrates his star quality as Domergue's dazed and confused lover, tumbling downstairs in his own stunt and staggering like a flesh-eating zombie toward the inevitable denouement at the Mexican border.

The movie starts slowly with Mitchum strutting his stuff as a doctor in a hospital. Then things get deliciously complicated when he falls for a beautiful, edgy, and manipulative patient (Domergue), who pulls him into her vicious web of intrigue and deception. There is a convincing fight scene with Rains, which leaves Mitchum seriously concussed and at the mercy of Domergue, who persuades him to flee with her to Mexico. Of course, you know they will never get there and the rest of the film follows them as they make their way through the various obstacles.

The Warner Classic Collection print was pristine with superb cinematography, lingering close-ups of the stars, and generally top-notch production. There are a lot of nice plot twists and I look forward to watching it again.