BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Blake Rivera If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

evanston_dad TCM introduced "Cry Danger" as being one of the funnier films noir, and that proves to be true. Dick Powell is quick with a droll one liner, of which this film is chock full. He plays an ex-con who was wrongfully imprisoned, and then gets roped into a twisted plot of shady dealings and double crossings when he's released. Set in run-down bars and trailer parks of downtown Los Angeles, it has a patina of grime to counterbalance its sense of humor and to satisfy those who like their noirs seedy.Grade: A

JohnHowardReid This film is usually credited to director Robert Parrish alone, but in point of fact it was Dick Powell who directed and rehearsed the players, whilst Parrish and Joe Biroc concentrated on the camera set-ups. This makes Cry Danger Powell's first film as a director – and a really notable achievement it is! Powell's own performance is also one of his best. He delivers his amusingly pungent dialogue in a delightfully laconic manner. However, it is actually Richard Erdman, who plays Powell's bogus buddy, who delivers the film's standout performance. The script provided him with a well-rounded character which he plays with just the right degree of morose self-indulgence – without in any way alienating audience sympathy. On the other hand, William Conrad delivers another of his chillingly fascinating studies in vicious thuggery. He is particularly well-served by director Powell, who makes great use of his bulk and in the justly celebrated table- top confrontation pulls off a truly memorable use of upside-down composition. So why am I awarding this terrific film a miserable 8/10? The name of the loser is Rhonda Fleming – a really lovely woman but with a very limited acting range. She is so beautiful, she can usually get away with it – but not in this movie! Understandably, she passes up the opportunity to turn in a performance of some subtlety, but even her straight acting here is unconvincing. But the rest of the players are all in fine form, particularly Jean Porter, Joan Banks and Gloria Saunders. (Memo to myself: Check to see if IMDb credits the unbilled Kathleen Freeman as the second cigarette girl.) Of the male performers, Jay Adler, Hy Averback, Benny Burt and Lou Lubin make a lasting impression. I have a buddy who used to give a course on film editing and this was the movie he always showed his students as an example of the best!

zardoz-13 Former Academy Award winning editor Robert Parrish cut his teeth as a director on this gritty, hard-broiled, black & white, Dick Powell urban thriller. Powell plays a hard-luck guy fresh out of prison after serving five years of a life term for a $100-thousand dollar robbery. No sooner has Rocky (Dick Powell of "Murder, My Sweet") gotten out of stir courtesy of a lame Marine, Delong (Richard Erdman of "Objective: Burma"), who has provided an alibi about clearing Rocky of a crime that our hero didn't commit. Meantime, a Los Angeles Police Lieutenant, Gus Cobb (Regis Toomey of "The Big Sleep"), tells Rocky that he plans to maintain tabs on him twenty-four/seven until he recovers the stolen loot. Rocky checks in with a shady bookie, Louie Castro (William Conrad of "The Killers"), who gives him $500 to place a bet on a horse that he claims will pay off 18-to-1. Naturally, Rocky demands more money to make up for the $100-thousand that he lost because he went to jail and couldn't hold down his $20-thousand dollar a year job. Everything goes smoothly for Rocky and Castro's long-shot horse pays off. Rocky picks up five grand from another bookie (Hy Averback), but he learns to his chagrin that he was paid off with dough from the robbery. Cobb pulls Rocky in, and Rocky cannot prove where he got the race horse money. As it turns out, Cobb has been following Rocky so he knows that Castro is lying when Castro tells him that he hasn't seen Rocky. Rocky hooks up with a friend's wife, Mrs. Nancy Morgan (Rhonda Fleming of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"), whose husband Danny is up for parole. The villains shoot up a car that they believe is being driven by Rocky, but he isn't behind the wheel when the bullets blast holes in an innocent bystander, Delong's part-time model girlfriend Darlene (Jean Porter of "Bathing Beauty"). Delong winds up in the hospital, and Rocky packs a pistol and goes after Castro. He plays an interesting game of Russian roulette with Castro and convinces him to spill his guts to Cobb. When Castro calls the police, he is actually calling his own henchmen. Rocky calls Castro's bluff and forces him to ring up the police. The cops show up just as Castro's gunsels are coming to his rescue."Cry Danger" isn't the best movie that Powell ever made, but this atmospheric RKO release holds its own until the final revelations. Conrad makes a sturdy villain. This complicated movie qualifies as a film noir because the heroine isn't on the level and the heroine is treacherous. She has been lying all-along to our soft-touch protagonist. Of course, Rocky gets away without having to go back to jail, and Cobb collects the loot. Powell and Fleming never generate sparks. Nevertheless, "Cry Danger" has some strong moments, and the Los Angeles setting is terrific. Interestingly enough, future James Bond credits creator Maurice Binder served as an assistant to the producer.

Michael O'Keefe Film-Noir; Powell on the prowl. Rocky Malloy(Dick Powell)is released from prison and immediately begins looking for who framed him for a robbery he did not commit. An ex-Marine(Richard Erdman)proves to be a false witness to get Malloy released in hopes of getting a share of $100,000 believed to be hidden. No-nonsense cop(Regis Toomey)greets Malloy on his arrival in Los Angeles and promises to tail his every move. Rocky goes gunning for nightclub owner Castro(William Conrad), who had arranged the robbery. Malloy manages to meet up with his still incarcerated buddy's wife(Rhonda Flemming), who still carries a torch. Deception and flying lead is not going to deter Malloy from trying to prove his innocence. Rounding out the cast: Jean Porter, Jay Adler and Joan Banks.