Customer Reviews

Dangerous Crossing

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Dangerous Crossing" [1953/Fox/b&w] was a low-budget film, but a first-class spellbinder. Scenario in brief: a new bride boards an ocean liner with her husband. The ship sails. He disappears. Why? How? Did he even exist? The bride's hysteria builds...until the mystery is solved.

This alarming, but riveting story was conceived by John Dickson Carr, a veteran contributor to CBS Radio's "Suspense." Director Joseph M. Newman's delayed-gratification, "march to the guillotine" pacing; the successful creation of an absolutely suffocating atmosphere of dread; the heart-rending performance of beautiful Jeanne Crain in one of her most challenging roles as the young bride; the sympathetic contributions of Michael Rennie as the ship's doctor: all distinguish "Dangerous Crossing" as a suspenseful film noir of the first order. Recommended without reservation.

This highly suspenseful film featuring the exquisitely beautiful Jeanne Crain finally makes it to DVD. Also starring Michael Rennie, Carl Betz (Donna Reed show) and a host of recognizable character actors provide us with a more than convincing edge of your seat thriller. This short (75 minutes long) film is packed with Hitchcockian touches making for a fine addition to any one's Mystery/Suspense collection!

UPDATE 03.18.08

This release is beautifully restored with excellent gray-scale resolution.
Bonus features abound including:
*Audio Commentary by Film Historian Aubrey Soloman
*Peril at Sea: Charting A Dangerous Crossing (Featurette)
*Interactive Passbook - Still Galleries
*Original Theatrical Trailer

This is an outstanding movie, a little gem. Filled with suspense and interest. A newly married woman boards a cruise ship with her husband and he immediately disappears. The ship's officials think she is delusional. Worth watching.

As I write this review, there have been two reviews of this film posted here, each of which gave it five stars. I enjoyed the movie, but I have to say that five stars is a little over-exuberant for this particular movie. I would reserve that sort of rating for a Casablanca, The Lady Vanishes, Duck Soup, and quite a few others, but I don't think those who made this movie intended it to be an undying work of cinema art, and so I'm giving it three stars, recognizing it as a solid, workmanlike product churned out by the studio system in (as the special features on the DVD point out several times), just nineteen days of shooting.

Let me be a little more specific. I'm going to limit what I say to a certain extent, because this is a film based on a story by John Dickson Carr, the master of "locked room" mysteries, and a large part of the film's dramatic energy stems from the fact that the story starts out with one of those seemingly impossible situations -- the young, starry-eyed bride boards the ocean liner with her wonderful new husband, only to have him disappear within minutes after boarding, and to have no one else on board the ship acknowledge that he ever existed. (Similar in some ways to The Lady Vanishes, mentioned above as a five-star effort of this sort by Mr. Hitchcock.)

Anyway, I am honor-bound not to write any spoilers, and I won't. What I will say is that the film is very well made. The special features point out that this movie used sets left over from the "Titanic" film of that era, so the quality of the shipboard scenes is quite good from a technical point of view. The acting and direction are fine, and the movie is very short and to the point. There is a good air of mystery, and we, the viewers, are left wondering what on earth (sea, I should say) is going on until a "reveal" moment by a villain about halfway through. (I hope that wasn't a spoiler, but, yes, there is at least one villain; it wasn't all just a big mistake.)

My main criticism isn't really anything negative -- the movie is well done for what it is. What it is, in my opinion, is a good example of the films cranked out like sausages back in the days before television caught on. I'm a bit too young to remember, but I believe the movies changed at least once per week in those days, and there often were double features. This would not have been a bill-topper. It strikes me as a woman-oriented melodrama, with a plot and style bearing hallmarks of the mass-produced romance novel -- young woman in grave jeopardy on board a ship; no one is listening to her, except a tall, dark, and handsome doctor (Michael Rennie), who is attentive, suave, and warm. There is not much in the way of subtlety or complexity in the film. There is an effective build-up of suspense, and some fairly standard "shocks" from bumping into things or hearing strange noises, or doors creaking, but nothing that really resonates as having great artistic merit.

Also, although I'm not at liberty to discuss them with those of you who haven't yet seen the film, I saw what I believe to be fairly obvious holes in the plot. A story like this by definition has to be somewhat contrived, in order to set up the seemingly impossible situation, but, once the solution was revealed, I had to ask myself how that solution would have been possible, practically speaking. In other words, how could the villain(s) have pulled that off, realistically. The movie does not do a great job of explaining the solution in any detail.

But, I have no regrets at having bought and watched the DVD. The movie is very nicely transferred to DVD; both audio and video are fine, and the featurette on the making of the film, with Jeanne Crain's grand-daughter and others, was quite informative. The movie is a good, entertaining diversion for a rainy afternoon, but it rates no more than a solid three stars.

This is a fun little film that keeps building in suspense until the final payoff. The cast is competent and attractive and the production is pretty much first-rate. The mini feature about the making of Dangerous Crossing is interesting, as it explains how movie production in the old studio days was incredibly fast. To think this movie was filmed in 19 days, with the polished look of an A-picture, even though it was filmed with a B-picture budget. Sets from Gentleman Prefer Blondes and Titanic were reused making the film seem more prestigious than it really was. An important film for Jeanne Crain (who looks beautiful) fans, Dangerous Crossing won't disappoint.

A ship crossing mystery is not a new plot so I didn't expect much. Quickly enveloped by a paranoia of everyone, I was mislead to believe my advice shouted to the beautiful heroine, Ruth Stanton Bowman (Jeanne Crain), was correct. Needless to say the plot of a husband that carries his bride across a stateroom threshold and into emotional terror was absorbing - drawing the viewer onboard the vessel as an unworthy confidant. With Hitchockian style, the seemingly predictable nature of the film was just the opposite, even though significant clues were clearly presented from the very beginning.

Jeanne Crain is an accomplished actress, having starred in PINKY (1949), A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949), and LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945). Her talent comes to life when considering that filming of this thriller was completed in just 19 days (as noted on the excellent DVD extra "Peril at Sea: Charting a Dangerous Crossing"). Bon voyage for surprised boarders of DANGEROUS CROSSING - a precursor to the similarly themed movie FLIGHTPLAN. Bravo!

Movie quote: "I do think you're confused Mrs. Bowman. This is your cabin. B16 has not been occupied."

Dangerous Crossing is a little known and short Film Noir and carries itself well. The acting abilities of it's featured artists Jeanne Crain and Michael Rennie are believable and the actors who pull together to make sure Miss Crain's character seems to be going out of her mind do a superb job. Note the stewardess' who is helping her lover(the husband of Miss Crain), it is Kathryn Grant (future wife to Bing Crosby - 1957). It's well worth the viewing.

Here's a perfect example of what the studio system could do with a B-movie. Shot in a mere 19 days, utilizing previously built sets, made on a modest budget, this mystery at sea delivers the goods in far more than just workmanlike fashion.

Newlywed Ruth Bowman (the lovely Jeanne Crain) & her handsome new husband (a young Carl Betz) board ship for a honeymoon cruise after a whirlwind courtship & wedding. It's all too wonderful for Ruth ... until her husband disappears, and there's no evidence of him ever having boarded the ship. In fact, there's considerable doubt as to whether he ever existed at all!

Enter the handsome & caring ship's doctor (an elegant Michael Rennie), the only one on board who seems genuinely sympathetic to her plight. Of course, by this time Ruth's nerves are so rattled that she doesn't quite trust him ... but who else is there to trust? And then there's the matter of those mysterious phone calls --

I won't give away any more. This is a solid thriller, with not a wasted moment, swimming with atmosphere & enough red herrings to keep you guessing (wrongly) until the very end. This might have been just a B-movie, but the filmmakers & cast gave it their all -- and it shows. So settle down with a big bowl of popcorn & enjoy this old-fashioned treat!

Dangerous Crossing is one of the best thriller/mysteries I've seen to date. It was actually filmed in a mere nineteen days although you'd never guess it! Jeanne Crain was highly intelligent and put everyone to the task of keeping up with her; and the result was wonderful. Yes, the ship's foghorn sounds too much during the early half of this film; but it's all atmospheric and despite just a little bit of camp there's really no fat to be found here! The cinematography is excellent and the choreography for action scenes is extremely well done. The film was shot in black and white to highlight the darkness of this mystery thriller.

When the action starts, we meet newlyweds John and Ruth Stanton Bowman (Carl Betz and Jeanne Crain, respectively) who board an ocean liner for a transatlantic crossing on their honeymoon. As the ship pulls out of port in New York City, John mentions to Ruth that he needs to go to the purser to deposit some cash for safekeeping. Trouble is, that's when the mystery begins. Ruth quickly finds out that her husband never keeps his appointment to meet her in the ship's lounge bar--and there's not even a record of him boarding the ship! The cabin stewardess who saw them both as she prepared the cabin politely but strongly denies that she ever saw John; and his passport and clothing are missing from their cabin!

Ruth panics, understandably, and when she is reassigned to another room the captain of the ship starts to suspect that Ruth is crazy and deluded. He wants to confine Ruth to her cabin for the crossing but the much kinder ship's doctor Paul Manning (Michael Rennie) wants to investigate Ruth's story just on the chance that she might not be hallucinating after all.

Nevertheless, Ruth continues to panic and this only makes the captain as well as the other passengers rather uncomfortable. After Ruth makes a big scene in the ship's ballroom even Dr. Manning agrees to let the captain forcibly confine Ruth to her cabin for the remainder of the voyage.

So, now, how will this all be resolved? Ruth does get one very brief phone call from her husband John who warns her that they are being watched--is it true? Where is John--on the ship or on land? Is Ruth waving goodbye to anyone in particular as the ship pulls out of port in New York City? Watch the movie and find out--I'm certainly not about to give out spoilers!

The DVD comes with an interview with Jeanne Crain's granddaughter and that's grand. There are a few other extras but this interview is really the best of them in my opinion.

Dangerous Crossing is a fine mystery thriller that looks quite professional despite the fact that is was produced on a rather low budget and filmed in just nineteen days. I highly recommend this film for persons who like mysteries; and fans of Michael Rennie and the others in the cast will not be disappointed.

"Dangerous Crossing" was not intended to be a great movie, nor is it. But it is a lot of fun and incorporates many of the characteristics of its genre. The acting is good, the plot fun (with a twist), and the ship setting creates a special atmosphere. I recommend this film, and the DVD is of very good quality.