Female on the Beach (1955)

Moving into a beach house involves Lynn Markham in mystery, danger, and romance with a beach boy of dubious motives.

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Robert Hill (play), Robert Hill (screenplay)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Jeff Chandler, Jan Sterling

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Lynn Markham
Jeff Chandler	...	Drummond Hall
Jan Sterling	...	Amy Rawlinson
Cecil Kellaway	...	Osbert Sorenson
Judith Evelyn	...	Eloise Crandall
Charles Drake	...	Police Lieutenant Galley
Natalie Schafer	...	Queenie Sorenson
Stuart Randall	...	Frankovitch
Marjorie Bennett	...	Mrs. Murchison

Storyline

Lynn Markham moves into her late husband's beach house...the morning after former tenant Eloise Crandall fell (or was pushed) from the cliff. To her annoyance, Lynn finds both her real estate agent and Drummond Hall, her muscular beachcomber neighbor, making themselves quite at home. Lynn soon has no doubts of what her scheming neighbors are up to, but she finds Drummond's physical charms hard to resist. And she still doesn't know what really happened to Eloise.

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Plot Keywords:

seduction | murder suspect | based on play | man in a swimsuit | balboa beach | 

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Taglines:

Once she was too hungry for love . . . To be afraid!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 1955 (UK)

Also Known As:

Das Haus am Strand

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Natalie Schafer, halfway through filming she was invited by Joan Crawford to her house for a small dinner party, but had to decline as she already had plans. When Schafer arrived onto the set the next morning, she found that her trailer had been physically moved almost to the parking lot of Universal.

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Goofs

The type of doorbell that is featured prominently in Crawford's beach house, with four large chime tubes, in reality makes a very different sound than the doorbell sound effect that is heard on the soundtrack whenever the bell is rung.

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Quotes

Lynn Markham: Now, why don't you take your hat in your hand, your sand in your shoes, and go and play in someone else's yard? I've had it, Galley!

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are written om wet sand and succeeding waves wash them away.

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Connections

Featured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002)

User Reviews

Crawford strikes again!

Freudian references aside,this well-mounted melodrama about a rich widow mixed up with a shady beach bum is definitely Crawford at her best. No simpering weak-kneed sister,this film noir-type story is a direct slap in the face to the Hollywood in the 50's who insisted on casting aging leading men with absurdly young leading ladies.The notion that older women need love and affection was considered almost absurd. Tennessee Williams territory!This film brought it smack dab in the face.Natalie Schaefer and Cecil Kellaway are fun as card sharks after Crawford's money.Jeff chandler is stolid as the beach bum.Judith Evelyn is touching as Eloise Crandall in the flashbacks. Jan Sterling is good as somewhat snaky realtor.Charles Drake is good as beach cop,t