Deadline at Dawn (1946)
Genre: Filmnoir / Mystery
Duration: 83 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Harold Clurman
Stars: Susan Hayward, Paul Lukas and Bill Williams
IMDb score:
6,8 (2.712)
Releasedate: 18 March 1946
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Deadline at Dawn plot
"Fate points the finger of suspicion... and one evening of innocent fun turns into a nightmare of MURDER!"
When Sailor Alex Winkley wakes up on a night's leave with a large sum of money from Edna Bartelli, a woman he had visited the previous evening to fix her radio, he wants to return it to her, but Bartelli turns out to have been murdered. Being drunk the previous evening, he is not sure of his own innocence, but nevertheless sets out to find the culprit, for whom he has only four hours until the end of his leave.
Actors and actresses
June Goffe
Gus Hoffman
Alex Winkler
Val Bartelli
Helen Robinson
Edna Bartelli
Lester Brady
Sleepy Parsons
Frantic Man with Injured Cat
Edward Honig
Reviews & comments
Dogie Hogan
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- 13381 messages
- 788 votes
Deadline at Dawn was the reunion with 2 actors from 'Gilda' (also 1946) in almost similar roles, namely Steven Geray and Joseph Calleia.
That naive and dorky sailor was very irritating indeed. How can the US Navy win a war with that and it is incomprehensible what his opposite in everything (Susan Hayward) sees in that. I would almost say unbelievable, but in 'Laura' (1944) detective Dane Andrews already observes in the circle of friends of the intelligent Gene Tierny, quote: '...why ladies surround themselves with dopes'.
Excellent acting, especially from Susan Hayward (almost theatrical), Joseph Calleia and Lola Lane.
I thought Paul Lukas (the meddling, paternalistic taxi driver) was a bit over-acting.
However, the story is somewhat illogical and unbelievable at some points, but the denouement comes as a total surprise.
IMDb *6/10.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Movsin
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- 8286 messages
- 8442 votes
What an unlikely and complicated story, partly due to the constant addition of characters who appear out of nowhere and may or may not be suspected.
Not very well acted either (Susan Hayward is miles above the rest), which makes the whole thing not only seem confused but also naive.
The dialogues don't weigh much either.
A certain tension remains and ultimately the denouement is still somewhat acceptable.
Ticket dancing, an American specialty? With "10 Cents a Dance" Doris Day already sang about it in "Love me or Leave Me" and the song was already decades old at that time.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2306 messages
- 2094 votes
Whodunit after a short story by Cornell Woolrich (credited under his pseudonym William Irish) from the RKO stable. It's a pleasant mixed bag that steals the show here, with Bill Williams as the good-natured sailor and the radiant Susan Hayward leading the way. We get a piece of American social history because Susan Hayward makes a living here as a dance hall girl who dances with customers for payment. There are more films from that time with this social background. As a crime film, I don't think Deadline at Dawn is really exciting, it is more about a story that relies on an original structure and final twist. Furthermore, the film is not entirely devoid of humor.
For director Harold Clurman it was the only film noir of his career. If you take into account that this film is bathed in expert chiaroscuro and takes advantage of that, it is interesting to see who the cameraman was on duty. Nicholas Musuraca is seen as important for film noir with, among other things, his contribution to Stranger on the Third Floor (1940), and more we know him from Val Lewton / Jacques Tourneur classics. Says everything about him.
Conclusion. Can we name a film after the cameraman for once? Film noir lovers have a nice snack with this Musuraca.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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