''Dangerous Business'' is a 1946 American comedy drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman. The film was directed by Ross Lederman with screenplay written by Harold Jacob Smith and Harry Essex.

Plot

B. J. Calhoun, a wealthy utilities entrepreneur, gives a commencement speech at a law school with the promise of assisting the new graduates. Young graduates and lovers Clayton Russell and Lizbeth Ellsworth plan to marry once they earn $10,000; but the

bombing of Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Haw ...

puts their plans on hold. Russell enlists, and Ellsworth joins others in Washington DC to support the WW II effort. After the war the couple reunite and start a new law practice. Fellow vet, and petty thief, Alexander Pough visits their office and informs them that Calhoun has been arrested on embezzlement charges. Pough agrees to help Russell on the law team's first case, which could aid the young lovers in building their nest egg. Calhoun is distrustful of lawyers after being set up by his first lawyer, Fluger. Russell and Ellsworth earn Calhoun's trust, but Calhoun confides in them that he fears for his life. Ellsworth's mother helps with bail, but falling short of the required amount, Pough secures enough from his underworld friends to secure the release of Calhoun. Calhoun is kidnapped, by petty thugs in league with Fluger. Hijinks with dead bodies, trial theatrics, fights and cops add to the story. In the end Calhoun's faith in the justice system is restored, and he gives the young legal eagles $10,000 as a retainer.

Cast

Forrest Tucker Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – October 25, 1986) was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in nearly a hundred films. Tucker worked as a vaudeville straight man at the age of fifteen. A mentor provided fund ...

as Clayton Russell *

Lynn Merrick Lynn Merrick (born Marilyn Llewelling, November 19, 1919 – March 25, 2007) was an American actress who appeared in over 40 films during the 1940s, mainly for Columbia and Republic Studios. Early life Merrick was born Marilyn Llewelling on ...

as Lizbeth Ellsworth *

Gerald Mohr Gerald Mohr (June 11, 1914 – November 9, 1968) was an American radio, film, and television character actor and frequent leading man, who appeared in more than 500 radio plays, 73 films, and over 100 television shows. Early years Mohr wa ...

as Duke *

Gus Schilling August "Gus" Schilling (June 20, 1908 – June 16, 1957) was an American film actor who started in burlesque comedy and usually played nervous comic roles, often unbilled. A friend of Orson Welles, he appeared in five of the director's films � ...

as Alexander Pough *

Shemp Howard Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Litvak accent. He is best known as the ...

as Monk *

Frank Sully Francis Thomas Sullivan (June 17, 1908 December 17, 1975), known professionally as Frank Sully, was an American film actor. He appeared in over 240 films between 1934 and 1968. Today's audiences know him best as the dumb detective in the ''Bost ...

as Bert *

Cora Witherspoon Cora Witherspoon (January 5, 1890 – November 17, 1957) was an American stage and film character actress whose career spanned nearly half a century. She began in theatre where she remained rooted even after entering motion pictures in the ...

as Mrs. Abigail Ellsworth *

Thurston Hall Ernest Thurston Hall (May 10, 1882 – February 20, 1958) was an American film, stage and television actor.Aylesworth, Thomas G. and Bowman, John S. (1987). ''The World Almanac Who's Who of Film''. World Almanac. . Pp. 186-187. Career Stag ...

as B.J. Calhoun

References

External links

* * 1946 films American comedy-drama films 1940s English-language films American black-and-white films Films directed by D. Ross Lederman Columbia Pictures films 1946 comedy-drama films 1940s American films {{1940s-drama-film-stub