Circle of Danger (1951)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writer:

Philip MacDonald (novel)

Release Date:

17 April 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Clay Douglas an American, comes to England, to find out the truth behind his brothers death during a commando operation in occupied France...

Plot Keywords:

England | Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Cast

Ray Milland	...	Clay Douglas
Patricia Roc	...	Elspeth Graham
Marius Goring	...	Sholto Lewis
Hugh Sinclair	...	Hamish McArran
Naunton Wayne	...	Reggie Sinclair
Edward Rigby	...	Idwal Llewellyn
Marjorie Fielding	...	Margaret McArran
John Bailey	...	Pape Llewellyn
Colin Gordon	...	Col. Fairbairn
Dora Bryan	...	Bubbles Fitzgerald
Reginald Beckwith	...	Oliver
David Hutcheson	...	Tony Wrexham
Michael Brennan	...	Bert Oakshott

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #15025) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

Coronado Productions

Inside a small circle of soldiers.

Son of a French famous director (Maurice),but an American citizen since 1919 when his father came to Hollywood,Jack (Jacques) Tourneur began his career in the land of Victor Hugo with funny comedies such as "Toto".But he is best remembered for his thrillers ("out of the past"),his adventures films ("the flame and the arrow") and his fantasy and horror movies ("cat people" ,"curse of the demon",my J.T. favourites.

"Circle of danger" belongs to the "thriller" category although it's rather a whodunit detective story ;as it takes place in England ,it is closer to Agatha Christie's puzzles than to American film noir .A man (Ray Milland ) investigates his brother's death.In WW2,he joined the English army and was killed in a raid .But the bullet that went through his head was not German.

Jack Tourneur has a very special way of filming the places .It is obvious in "Curse of the demon" .Here too the places seem more important than the characters : the mines,the nice cottage in Scotland,the dancing school,the theater ,and above all,the sensational use of the Scottish country in the final sequence.He makes harmless elements very strange nay scary: the awful choir,the ballet,the commander's mom....

There is a slight sag in the texture and tension in the second part when Tourneur focuses on the female character played by decorative Patricia Roc.Besides,when Clay talks about his kid brother,it's not enough to make acquaintance with a character who does not appear in the movie,and it is important,when you know the ending of the film.

By the last thirty minutes,the movie becomes exciting again.The whistling tune is a very good trick,worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.And the final scene cannot be praised too highly:a very good suspense.