''Undertow'' is a 1949 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 ' ...

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by

William Castle William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Orphaned at 11, Castle dropped out of high school at 15 to work in the theater. He came to the attenti ...

and starring

Scott Brady Scott Brady (born Gerard Kenneth Tierney; September 13, 1924 – April 16, 1985) was an American film and television actor best known for his roles in Western films and as a ubiquitous television presence. He played the title role in the televi ...

, John Russell,

Dorothy Hart Dorothy Hart (April 4, 1922 – July 11, 2004) was an American actress, mostly in supporting roles. She portrayed Howard Duff's fiancée in the film ''The Naked City'' (1948). Early life Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Hart was the daughter of insura ...

and

Peggy Dow Peggy Dow (born Peggy Josephine Varnadow; March 18, 1928) is an American philanthropist and retired actress who had a brief career in Hollywood had Universal Studios starring in films during the Golden Age Era in the early 1950s. She is perha ...

. It is the story of an ex-con, a former

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

mobster, who is accused of the murder of a high-ranking Chicago boss. The movie marks the second film to feature a young

Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Golde ...

and the first in which he received a film credit for his work..

Plot

Tony Reagan (

) was a low-level member of the

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

syndicate; he was run out of town back then for being involved with the kingpin Big Jim's niece. Seven years later, Reagan has been vacationing in

Reno Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the c ...

, at a lodge in which he intends to invest with the father of an old army buddy. He bumps into an old friend/former colleague from Chicago named Danny Morgan ( John Russell). It turns out they are both hoping to soon be married. On his way home to Chicago to propose to his girl, Reagan shares the flight with a schoolteacher, Ann McKnight (

), someone he met at a

casino A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertai ...

and helped win at the gambling table. At the airport, he is met by the police; it seems they have been tipped off that Reagan is looking to stir trouble with Big Jim. The police put a tail on him, which he shakes on a Chicago elevated train. Reagan meets up with his bride-to-be, Sally Lee (

). He tells her he will go to Big Jim to make peace. But when the uncle is murdered, Reagan is framed for it. On the run from both the police and the unknown murderers, Reagan enlists the help of McKnight and an old buddy, Charles Reckling (

Bruce Bennett Bruce Bennett (born Harold Herman Brix, also credited Herman Brix; May 19, 1906February 24, 2007) was an American film and television actor who prior to his screen career was a highly successful college athlete in football and in both intercol ...

), a detective. They discover the truth: Morgan is also engaged to Sally Lee, and together they are responsible for murdering her uncle and framing Reagan. Reagan manages to clear himself, however, after which he and McKnight end up in each other's arms, bound for that lodge in Reno.

Cast

as Tony Reagan * John Russell as Danny Morgan *

as Sally Lee *

as Ann McKnight *

as Reckling * Gregg Martell as Frost * Robert Anderson as Stoner * Dan Ferniel as Gene (as Daniel Ferniel) *

as Detective (as Roc Hudson) * Charles Sherlock as Cooper * Anne P. Kramer as Clerk (as Ann Pearce) * Robert Easton as Fisher

References

External links

* * * {{William Castle 1949 films 1949 drama films 1940s crime thriller films American crime thriller films American black-and-white films Film noir Films directed by William Castle Universal Pictures films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films