By Darren Allison
I really didn’t know too much about Paul Guilfoyle’s 1955 film, A Life at Stake, although I have always had a fondness for stark film noir. Spoiled young Doris Hillman (played by the delightful Angela Lansbury) invites struggling architect Edward Shaw (Keith Andes) to come in as her husband's partner in a lucrative real estate deal. However, when Edward becomes romantically involved with Doris, he learns that something deadly is going on. There's a life at stake, and it could be his own.
As we progress deeper into the story immediate parallels begin to emerge such as Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944). However, it’s evident that A Life at Stake wasn’t afforded the same budgetary benefits as Wilder’s classic movie. That said, A Life at Stake is a brilliant slice of entertainment which is more than capable of standing on its own two feet.
I really didn’t know too much about Paul Guilfoyle’s 1955 film, A Life at Stake, although I have always had a fondness for stark film noir. Spoiled young Doris Hillman (played by the delightful Angela Lansbury) invites struggling architect Edward Shaw (Keith Andes) to come in as her husband's partner in a lucrative real estate deal. However, when Edward becomes romantically involved with Doris, he learns that something deadly is going on. There's a life at stake, and it could be his own.
As we progress deeper into the story immediate parallels begin to emerge such as Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944). However, it’s evident that A Life at Stake wasn’t afforded the same budgetary benefits as Wilder’s classic movie. That said, A Life at Stake is a brilliant slice of entertainment which is more than capable of standing on its own two feet.
- 11/4/2021
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
It’s low-rent Noir A Go-Go: Angela Lansbury is a double-crossing femme fatale in this independent cheapie with modest charms. You can’t trust anyone these days, especially real estate developers with plans to collect Your life insurance. Lansbury is the seductive ‘motivator’ with a preference for late-night rendezvous in the high mountains, where everything is a long drop, nudge nudge wink wink. She makes with the hotcha come-ons but rugged Keith Andes is the one who goes around topless for an entire reel. One of the most obscure ’50s films noir, this one gives us a peek at an evocative Hollywood location or two.
A Life at Stake
Blu-ray
The Film Detective
1955 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 76 min. / Street Date September 7, 2021 / 24.95
Starring: Angela Lansbury, Keith Andes, Douglass Dumbrille, Claudia Barrett, Jane Darwell, Gavin Gordon, Charles Maxwell, William Henry.
Cinematography: Ted Allan
Set Designer: Robert Haver
Film Editor: Frank Sullivan
Original...
A Life at Stake
Blu-ray
The Film Detective
1955 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 76 min. / Street Date September 7, 2021 / 24.95
Starring: Angela Lansbury, Keith Andes, Douglass Dumbrille, Claudia Barrett, Jane Darwell, Gavin Gordon, Charles Maxwell, William Henry.
Cinematography: Ted Allan
Set Designer: Robert Haver
Film Editor: Frank Sullivan
Original...
- 9/4/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Angela Lansbury in the Forgotten Film Noir A Life At Stake will be available as a Special-Edition Blu-ray & DVD, September 7th With Striking 4K Restoration & Brand New, Exclusive Special Features
Cinedigm, the leading independent streaming entertainment company super-serving enthusiast fan bases, announced today that The Film Detective (Tfd), the classic media streaming network and film archive that restores and distributes classic films, is releasing a special- edition version of the forgotten film noir, A Life at Stake(1955), on Blu-ray and DVD, Sept. 7.
From director Paul Guilfoyle comes this highly charged mystery starring Angela Lansbury and Keith Andes. At the time, Lansbury—starring in an unlikely role as charming femme fatale—was already a double Oscar nominee for Gaslight (1944) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945).
In this independent production from the waning golden years of film noir, spoiled, young Doris Hillman (Lansbury) invites struggling architect Edward Shaw (Andes) to be her...
Cinedigm, the leading independent streaming entertainment company super-serving enthusiast fan bases, announced today that The Film Detective (Tfd), the classic media streaming network and film archive that restores and distributes classic films, is releasing a special- edition version of the forgotten film noir, A Life at Stake(1955), on Blu-ray and DVD, Sept. 7.
From director Paul Guilfoyle comes this highly charged mystery starring Angela Lansbury and Keith Andes. At the time, Lansbury—starring in an unlikely role as charming femme fatale—was already a double Oscar nominee for Gaslight (1944) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945).
In this independent production from the waning golden years of film noir, spoiled, young Doris Hillman (Lansbury) invites struggling architect Edward Shaw (Andes) to be her...
- 8/11/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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