''Danger on the Air'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by

Otis Garrett Otis Garrett (1905–1941) was an American film editor, screenwriter and film director.Shelley p.150 Filmography Director * ''The Last Express'' (1938) * '' Danger on the Air'' (1938) * '' The Black Doll'' (1938) * ''Personal Secretary'' (1938) ...

. The film was based on the novel ''Death Catches Up with Mr. Kluck'' by author Xanthippe.

Plot summary

Nan Grey, as Christina "Steenie" MacCorkle, a radio advertising executive, is suspected of murdering her client as Caesar Kluck, a soda magnate. Loathed by all who met him, or forced to work, with his underhanded business machinations, the victims, and suspects, start piling up. Including thug,

Joe Downing Joe Downing (June 26, 1903 in New York City, New York – October 16, 1975 in Canoga Park, California) was an American stage, TV and B-movie actor who made more than 70 appearances. Downing's early acting experience included work with the Thea ...

, as Gangster Joe Carney;

Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (born Leo Jacoby; December 8, 1911February 11, 1976) was an American actor, known both for film roles and his work on the Broadway stage. He often played arrogant, intimidating and abrasive characters, but he also acted as respectabl ...

as Tony Lisotti, trying to protect his daughter,

Louise Stanley Louise Stanley (born Louise Keyes; January 28, 1915 – December 28, 1982), was an American actress. Early years Born in Springfield, Illinois, Keyes was the daughter of Alvin Keyes, who was assistant director of the Illinois State Depa ...

, as Maria Lisotti, from being another notch on Kluck's belt; and, Peter Lind Hayes, as Harry Lake, who is desperate to get on the air, seemingly at any cost.

Cast

Production

''Danger on the Air'' was based on

The Crime Club ''The Crime Club'' was an imprint of the Doubleday publishing company, which later spawned a 1946-47 anthology radio series, and a 1937-1939 film series. Literature Many classic and popular works of detective and mystery fiction had their fir ...

novel '' Death Catches Up with Mr. Kluck'' by Xantippe. Production on the film began in mid May 1938.

Release

''Danger on the Air'' was released on July 1, 1938 by

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

Reception

From retrospective reviews, the authors of ''Universal Horrors'' declared the film to be "One of the better Crime Club entries" noting that " Nan Grey contributes a particularly ingratiating performance."

References

Footnotes

Sources

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Danger On The Air 1938 films 1938 mystery films American black-and-white films Films based on American novels Films based on mystery novels American mystery films Films directed by Otis Garrett Universal Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films