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> Dangerous Crossing (Fox Film Noir) |
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Staring:
Jeanne Crain,
Michael Rennie,
Max Showalter,
Carl Betz,
Mary Anderson
Director:
Joseph M. Newman
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $6.91
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Fox
EAN: 0024543446675
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-03-11
Running Time: 75
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: 1953 |
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Product Description
After her new husband goes missing, a young bride on a honeymoon cruise discovers that the boat crew claims he was never on the ship.
Amazon.com
A relaxing cruise turns into a terrifying journey in Joseph M. Newman's Dangerous Crossing. Part of the Fox Film Noir series, Newman's classy B-movie plays more like a psychological thriller with some particularly atmospheric visuals (heavy on the studio-generated fog). As her honeymoon begins, newlywed Ruth Bowman (Jeanne Craine, Pinky) explores the ship while husband John (Carl Betz, The Donna Reed Show) runs an errand. On deck, a friendly divorcée warns Ruth, "You mustn't let him out of your sight--husbands can get lost so easily." (The familiar-looking sets were recycled from 1953's Titanic and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.) Hours later, John hasn't returned, and no one has seen him. Ruth’s inquiries uncover an empty room, a missing passport, and her spouse’s absence from the passenger list. All signs point to delusion. Ruth's plight brings her to the attention of Dr. Paul Manning (the elegant Michael Rennie, The Day the Earth Stood Still), who offers to help in any way he can. Though Ruth confesses to a brief bout with depression, there’s nothing else in her background to indicate instability, but that disclosure leads Manning to the real cause of her distress. Based on John Dickson Carr's 1943 radio play Cabin B-13 and shot in 19 days, Newman (This Island Earth) conjures up as much intrigue as Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes. The excellent extras include comprehensive commentary from Fox historian Aubrey Solomon, a short featurette (Peril at Sea: Charting a Dangerous Crossing), several stills galleries, and the original theatrical trailer. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Did she have a husband...or is she mad? Only the ship's doctor can help., 2010-01-02
"I'll meet you in 15 minutes in the main deck bar. We'll drink a toast to us." When the young, wealthy and nervous Ruth Stanton (Jeanne Crain) hears this from her impetuously-wedded new husband just after boarding a transatlantic steamer for their honeymoon, be prepared for the disappearing spouse gambit (or disappearing brother or best friend). The disappearance may take place on a train, in a Paris hotel or on a cruise ship, but we know that the young woman will soon think she must be mad...yet, in this case, she knows she had a husband. Why does everyone she meets, from fellow passengers to the stewards and third officers, deny ever having seen the man. It looks like sedation and confinement is in the works for Ruth, but then kindly Paul Manning (Michael Rennie), the ship's doctor, thinks that...just maybe...Ruth Stanton might be telling the truth.
And off we go on a voyage filled with nighttime fog, dark passage ways, muffled struggles, disbelief and, as we early on surmise, an unscrupulous plot designed to bring a young woman to madness.
Dangerous Crossing benefits from the old warhorse of a plot, from the creepy look of the film and, if you like transatlantic ships, the pleasurable goings on of those who dress for dinner in the grand salon. Michael Rennie is tall, calm and reassuring. Jeanne Crain, however, is from Hollywood's Loretta Young School of Acting, which includes Gene Tierney, Donna Reed, Ann Blythe and, sometimes, Anne Baxter. That is, the actresses must always be well groomed, immaculately made up, dressed casually to the nines and, in general, be able to mix restrained hysteria with well-bred graciousness.
We know what's going on early in the movie, but still, getting to the last words is an easy way to spend 75 minutes.
"Everything he said and did was like a terrible nightmare. Only worse because it was real," Ruth says to Paul.
"Ruth, listen to me. You've got to put it out of your mind, the whole thing. It was a nightmare, but your eyes are open now. It's over, Ruth, all over. You've got tomorrow to think of...and lots of tomorrows after that..."
"I know you're right, Paul."
The movie looks just fine. For those who enjoy commentary tracks, there's one by Aubrey Solomon, identified as a film historian.
Jeanne Crain dazzles in suspenseful mystery at sea, 2009-11-04
Gene Tierney might have been the reigning female star of noir at Fox, but Jeanne Crain certainly gives Tierney a run for her money in the sublime "locked room" mystery DANGEROUS CROSSING, one of her last major movies before leaving the studio in 1953.
In DANGEROUS CROSSING, Jeanne Crain plays Ruth, the lovely if ever-so-slightly unstable wife of John Bowman (Carl Betz). Their honeymoon cruise hits a snag when the groom promptly "disappears" just as the boat launches. Frantic Ruth appeals for help from passengers and crew members alike but the story is always the same: they don't recall seeing Ruth with anyone, let alone a husband. Concerned Dr. Manning (Michael Rennie) takes the shattered woman under his wing; and he's determined to discover the real cause of Ruth's "delirium". But no-one, much less Ruth, will be able to understand the true motives behind the vanished husband.
Economically filmed in only nineteen days using the pre-existing ship sets built for the 1953 Fox production of "Titanic", DANGEROUS CROSSING is a testament to the professionalism of Jeanne Crain--who was battling a 'flu during the shoot--that she was able to flesh out such a believable character in a short amount of time, delivering one of her finest performances in the process. Ruth in DANGEROUS CROSSING is right up there with "Pinky", "Leave Her to Heaven" and "A Letter to Three Wives".
The "locked room" mystery movie is a great example of a successful noir sub-genre; other movies with the same theme include Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes", 1932's "Midnight Warning", and the underrated masterpiece "So Long at the Fair" starring Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde (still sadly-unavailable on DVD--hello, Criterion!). DANGEROUS CROSSING was based on a popular radio play by John Dickson Carr entitled "Cabin B-13".
The DVD includes a wonderful new Making Of featurette ("Peril at Sea: Charting a Dangerous Crossing"), audio commentary with Aubrey Solomon, isolated musical score track, interactive galleries and the trailer; plus sneak peeks at similar titles in the Fox Film Noir collection.
Highly recommended.
You'll enjoy this mystery!, 2010-05-24
This is a little known gem, a mystery I had not heard of until I ordered it from Amazon. I bought it on the strenth of the reviews, and was not disappointed. It's a well-written film and the two leads, Michael Rennie and Jeanne Crain, are perfectly cast. Crain has never been more beautiful or effective than she is here, and Rennie (an underrated actor) is believable in the role of ship's doctor. This one will surprise you with its plot twists. It's definitely worth adding to any mystery film collection!
Oh so nearly 5 stars, 2010-05-26
After watching this wonderful movie today on DVD, I have to say what a great little movie it was. It is in fact a "hidden" gem..........I don't remember watching it on TV in my younger days.
Michael Rennie and especially the absolutely attractive Jeanne Crain were magnificent in this lovely Fox film noir gem. I'd go as far as saying Jeanne nearly deserved an Oscar nomination for her role..........she played the part superbly and her acting skills came to the fore here (I don't know how people can question her acting abilities)!! as she completely shone all the way through, and looked so beautiful and sexy too.
The only downside for me was the slightly "contrived" ending. I know the story of the movie was originally taken from a novel, but a slightly more adventurous ending would have given the movie the whole magical 5 stars............but still a very good 4 out of 5.
Good mystery., 2010-07-28
This is quite an old movie, but the story line is good. For an older film, the quality was good. I like a good mystery, but I pretty much figured out what was going on about half way through the movie. First film I ever saw Jeanne Crain in was Cheaper By The Dozen and I appreciated her acting. I was not disappointed with her in this show either.
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