''Dangerous Crossing'' is a 1953 American

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means ...

directed by

Joseph M. Newman Joseph M. Newman (August 17, 1909 – January 23, 2006) was an American film director most famous for his 1955 film ''This Island Earth''. His credits include episodes of ''The Twilight Zone'' and ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour''. He was nomin ...

and starring

Jeanne Crain Jeanne Elizabeth Crain (May 25, 1925 – December 14, 2003) was an American actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her title role in '' Pinky'' (1949). She also starred in the films ''In the Meantime, Darling'' (1944 ...

and

Michael Rennie Michael Rennie (born Eric Alexander Rennie; 25 August 1909 – 10 June 1971) was a British film, television and stage actor, who had leading roles in a number of Hollywood films, including his portrayal of the space visitor Klaatu in the s ...

, based on the 1943 play '' Cabin B-13'' by

John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 – February 27, 1977) was an American author of detective stories, who also published using the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn. He lived in England for a number of years, and is ...

. The plot of the film centers on the

gaslighting Gaslighting is a colloquialism, loosely defined as manipulating someone so as to make them question their own reality. The term derives from the title of the 1944 American film ''Gaslight'', which was based on the 1938 British theatre play ''Gas ...

of a female protagonist aboard a cruise vessel.

Plot

Newlywed Ruth (Stanton) Bowman (

) joyously starts a honeymoon cruise to Europe with her husband John Bowman (

Carl Betz Carl Lawrence Betz (March 9, 1921 – January 18, 1978) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He appeared in a variety of television series, including the CBS soap opera ''Love of Life''; he is best remembered for playing Donna ...

), only to have him go missing shortly after they check into their cabin. Compounding her confusion, Ruth finds that she is registered solo under her maiden name in a different cabin and that none of the crew members who could have seen her husband on the ship remember him. These include the ship's purser (

Gayne Whitman Gayne Whitman (born Alfred D. Vosburgh; March 19, 1890 – August 31, 1958) was an American radio and film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1904 and 1957. In some early films he was credited under his birth name. He was born ...

), stewardess Anna Quinn ( Mary Anderson), and second officer Jim Logan (

Max Showalter Max Gordon Showalter (June 2, 1917 – July 30, 2000), sometimes credited as Casey Adams, was an American film, television, and stage actor, as well as a composer, pianist, and singer. He appeared on more than 1,000 television programs. One ...

). After she talks to the captain (

Willis Bouchey Willis Ben Bouchey (May 24, 1907 – September 27, 1977) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 150 films and television shows. He was born in Vernon, Michigan, but raised by his mother and stepfather in Washington state. ...

), he orders the ship searched for the missing John Bowman. However, the captain notices that Ruth isn't wearing a wedding ring, and the crew begin to suspect Ruth is mentally unbalanced. That night, John telephones Ruth with a cryptic warning not to trust anyone. A divorcee traveling solo (

Marjorie Hoshelle Marjorie Leah Hoshell (January 7, 1918 – April 5, 1989) was an American actress. Born in Chicago, Hoshelle was the daughter of Norman and Leah Hoshell. She graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago and UCLA. Portraying Juliet in a stage p ...

) and the stewardess take an interest in Ruth. Meanwhile, Dr. Manning (

) starts a sympathetic search for the facts, spends time with Ruth, using his clinical demeanour to get her to open up about the recent death of her father, a wealthy steel executive. Ruth recognizes the crew question her sanity, and decides to put on an act and agrees that she's been foolish, but mysterious things continue to happen. Ruth and Dr. Manning get closer, and a man who walks with a cane seems to stalk her. The stewardess is revealed as conspiring with someone (by phone) to make Ruth seem unstable. Dr. Manning confronts Ruth with the suggestion that her wedding was either secret or non-existent. She explains that John wanted it to be quick and quiet and talks about an uncle who might scheme to get her large inheritance. John calls again and asks to meet Ruth on deck but runs into the fog when he hears others approach. The ship's crew chase Ruth but she escapes, ending up in the dance room where she is trapped and makes a scene of despair. The captain demands that she be locked in her cabin. She is sedated and a strict nurse prevents her from demanding anything. At last, John is revealed to be Barlowe, the third mate, who has been under Dr. Manning's care all along for a claimed illness. When he learns Ruth has been locked in, he tells his co-conspirator the stewardess to enable her escape. When they meet again, John attempts to throw Ruth overboard (mentioning the money of the inheritance he would get as a motive) but is stopped by Dr. Manning, who has followed her. It is John who accidentally goes overboard in the ensuing fight. Later, Dr. Manning comforts Ruth, and the captain apologizes in the name of all who didn't believe her and explains that the stewardess confessed.

Cast

as Ruth Stanton Bowman *

as Dr. Paul Manning *

as Jim Logan (as Casey Adams) *

as John Bowman * Mary Anderson as Anna Quinn *

as Kay Prentiss *

as Capt. Peters * Yvonne Peattie as Miss Bridges

Production

The radio play '' Cabin B-13'' was very popular when broadcast in 1943 and had been adapted for TV in 1948. Film rights were bought by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

, which started production in 1952 under the name ''Ship Story''. Corinne Calvert and

Gary Merrill Gary Fred Merrill (August 2, 1915 – March 5, 1990) was an American film and television actor whose credits included more than 50 feature films, a half-dozen mostly short-lived TV series, and dozens of television guest appearances. He starr ...

were the original leads.

was originally meant to direct a film called ''The Raid'' but it was having casting issues and the director was under contract to the studio, so they transferred him to ''Ship Story''. Eventually the lead roles were assigned to Fox contract stars

and

. Filming started January 1953. Joseph Newman later recalled it was "a very low budget picture. At that time Twentieth Century Fox wanted to cut down on costs. But I think it was a good mystery. Crain and Rennie were both delightful people and pleasant to work with."

Reception

Critical response

The film critic for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' gave a lukewarm review, writing

Although it maintains an eerie quality and suspense through the first half of its footage, ''Dangerous Crossing'', which arrived at the Globe yesterday, is only a mildly engrossing adventure ... While sound effects, background music and shipboard sets lend a peculiar fascination to the melodrama, the acting of the cast adds little tautness to the proceedings. As the beleaguered heiress Jeanne Crain is beautiful but not entirely convincing in the role ... ''Dangerous Crossing'', in effect, is intriguing only part of the way.... Thereafter, it is a commonplace trip.

References

External links

* * * * * * {{Joseph M. Newman 1953 crime drama films 1950s mystery films 1953 films 20th Century Fox films American black-and-white films American crime drama films American films based on plays American mystery films 1950s English-language films Film noir Films directed by Joseph M. Newman Seafaring films 1950s American films