''I Live on Danger'' is a 1942 film noir

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by Sam White and starring

Chester Morris John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 – September 11, 1970) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some prestigious film roles early in his career, and received an Academy Awards, Academy Award nomination ...

and

Jean Parker Jean Parker (born Lois May Green; August 11, 1915 – November 30, 2005) was an American film and stage actress. A native of Montana, indigent during the Great Depression, she was adopted by a family in Pasadena, California at age ten. She in ...

Plot

Jeff Morrell is an ambitious radio reporter. The news of the day is the prison release of gambler Eddie Nelson, who was the fallguy for a criminal named Joey Farr. While exclusively covering a ship's fire, Jeff falls for Susan Richards, and knows her to be Eddie's companion. It turns out she's Eddie's sister, not his girl, and Susan resents it when Jeff's reporting gets Eddie arrested and convicted on a new charge. District Attorney Lamber is in cahoots with the crooks. Farr tries to flee, and is tracked to a Pennsylvania coal mine. Jeff gets there first and manages to broadcast Farr's confession, then barely gets away when Farr sets off a blast of TNT. Susan loves Jeff for heroically rescuing her brother.

Cast

as Jeff Morrell *

as Susan Richards *

Elisabeth Risdon Elisabeth Risdon (born Daisy Cartwright Risdon; 26 April 1887 – 20 December 1958) was an English film actress. She appeared in more than 140 films between 1913 and 1952. A beauty in her youth, she usually played in society parts. In later ...

as Mrs. Morrell *

Edward Norris Septimus Edward Norris (March 10, 1911 – December 18, 2002) was an American film actor. Early years Norris was born in 1911, the son of a prominent Philadelphia gynecologist, who was described in a newspaper article as "a famous surgeon and ...

as Eddie Nelson * Dick Purcell as Norm Thompson *

Roger Pryor Roger Atkinson Pryor (July 19, 1828 – March 14, 1919) was a Virginian newspaper editor and politician who became known for his fiery oratory in favor of secession; he was elected both to national and Confederate office, and served as a gen ...

as Bert Jannings * Douglas Fowley as Joey Farr *

Ralph Sanford Ralph Dayton Sanford (May 21, 1899 – June 20, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films and in at least 200 episodes on television between 1930 and 1960, mostly bit parts or supporting roles. Sanford frequently ...

as Angie Moss * Edwin Maxwell as Wingy Keefe * Patsy Nash as Dilly *Joe Cunningham as Inspector Conlon *

Bernadene Hayes Bernadene Hayes (March 15, 1912 – August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actress. Early years Hayes was born at 3855 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hayes. She had three brothers an ...

as Jonesy * Billy Nelson as George "Longshot" Harrison * Vickie Lester as Keefe's secretary *

William Bakewell William Bakewell (May 2, 1908 – April 15, 1993) was an American actor who achieved his greatest fame as one of the leading juvenile performers of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Early years Bakewell was a native of Los Angeles, where he at ...

as Mac *

Charlotte Henry Charlotte Virginia Henry (March 3, 1914 – April 11, 1980) was an American actress who is best remembered for her roles in '' Alice in Wonderland'' (1933) and '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934). She also starred in the Frank Buck serial ''Jun ...

as Nurse *

Anna Q. Nilsson Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish-American actress who achieved success in American silent movies. Early life Nilsson was born in Ystad, Sweden in 1888. Her middle name Quirentia is derived from her ...

as Mrs. Sherman

Production

The film was based on a story called I'll Be Back in a Flash by Alex Gottlieb. He sold it to

Pine Thomas Productions Pine-Thomas Productions was a prolific B-picture unit of Paramount Pictures from 1940–1957, producing 81 films. Co-producers William H. Pine (February 15, 1896 – April 29, 1955) and William C. Thomas (August 11, 1903 – April 2, 1984) were kno ...

in August 1941. They bought it as the second in a three-picture deal Chester Morris had with

Pine-Thomas Productions Pine-Thomas Productions was a prolific B-picture unit of Paramount Pictures from 1940–1957, producing 81 films. Co-producers William H. Pine (February 15, 1896 – April 29, 1955) and William C. Thomas (August 11, 1903 – April 2, 1984) were kno ...

. Lewis Foster was assigned to write the script. Morris' 38-year-old brother Arthur was meant to play a role in the film but died shortly before filming of a brain haemorrhage. Jean Parker signed to make the film as the first in a three-picture deal she had with Pine Thomas. Filming took place in December 1941.

had her first role in 13 years.

Reception

The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a pretty good B". The ''New York Times'' said the film showed "very little than what we have already seen."

References

External links

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Review
at ''Variety'' {{DEFAULTSORT:I Live on Danger 1942 films 1940s crime thriller films American black-and-white films American crime thriller films Films about journalists Films scored by Freddie Rich Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Sam White (film producer) 1940s English-language films 1940s American films