Rocky Malloy is a man that has served five years of his life in jail for a crime he didn't commit. We watch as he gets out of the train in Los Angeles' Union Station, where the newspaper man recognizes him from the front page story. A detective, and the man who gave Rocky his alibi, Delong, follow him until they meet. Rocky, while grateful to the guy that got him out of jail, but he knows Delong has an ulterior motive and wants to get to part of the money.
Rocky and Delong end up in a seedy trailer park. The beautiful Nancy happens to live there as well. Nancy, whose husband is tied up to Rocky, always liked Rocky. Being so close, they begin to get reacquainted. Delong, who likes Darlene, another woman in the trailer park, shacks up with Rocky. When someone shoots in Rocky's direction on the first night at the trailer park, he figures he has to pay a visit to an old friend so he can collect some of the money that's due to him. This is the beginning for Rocky to clear his name, even if it will take him to situations he didn't count on.
"Cry Danger", directed by Robert Parrish, is a minor film of the crime genre, not a film noir, as some comments indicate, and which Robert Maxwell, in his excellent commentary on this forum, analyzes objectively. This film was basically shot during the daytime. Sure, there are night scenes, but those menacing shadows are missing, also there are no tricky camera angles that distinguishes the noir genre from crime films. Which doesn't mean the film doesn't have its own merits.
Dick Powell, a versatile man, was at the end of his film career. As Rocky, he doesn't show the ease he showed in the much better "Murder My Sweet", but still he holds our attention. His contribution to the film pays off. Richard Erdman, who is seen as Delong, makes a good appearance. Rhonda Fleming plays Nancy, the woman who is the key to the mystery at the center of the story. William Conrad plays Louie Castro. Regis Toomey is seen as the detective Gus Cobb, who realizes Rocky is clean. Jean Porter has a couple of good moments as the party girl living in the trailer park.
"Cry Danger" while not a fine example of the crime film, gives us a look at how Los Angeles looked like thanks to the good black and white photography by Joseph Biroc. The director, Robert Parrish, gets good ensemble playing from his cast.
Rocky and Delong end up in a seedy trailer park. The beautiful Nancy happens to live there as well. Nancy, whose husband is tied up to Rocky, always liked Rocky. Being so close, they begin to get reacquainted. Delong, who likes Darlene, another woman in the trailer park, shacks up with Rocky. When someone shoots in Rocky's direction on the first night at the trailer park, he figures he has to pay a visit to an old friend so he can collect some of the money that's due to him. This is the beginning for Rocky to clear his name, even if it will take him to situations he didn't count on.
"Cry Danger", directed by Robert Parrish, is a minor film of the crime genre, not a film noir, as some comments indicate, and which Robert Maxwell, in his excellent commentary on this forum, analyzes objectively. This film was basically shot during the daytime. Sure, there are night scenes, but those menacing shadows are missing, also there are no tricky camera angles that distinguishes the noir genre from crime films. Which doesn't mean the film doesn't have its own merits.
Dick Powell, a versatile man, was at the end of his film career. As Rocky, he doesn't show the ease he showed in the much better "Murder My Sweet", but still he holds our attention. His contribution to the film pays off. Richard Erdman, who is seen as Delong, makes a good appearance. Rhonda Fleming plays Nancy, the woman who is the key to the mystery at the center of the story. William Conrad plays Louie Castro. Regis Toomey is seen as the detective Gus Cobb, who realizes Rocky is clean. Jean Porter has a couple of good moments as the party girl living in the trailer park.
"Cry Danger" while not a fine example of the crime film, gives us a look at how Los Angeles looked like thanks to the good black and white photography by Joseph Biroc. The director, Robert Parrish, gets good ensemble playing from his cast.