DANGER SIGNAL
US, 1945, 78 minutes, Black and white.
Faye Emerson, Zachary Scott, Rosemary De Camp, Mona Freeman, Bruce Bennett.
Directed by Robert Florey.
Danger Signal is a small-budget Warner Bros. thriller, a supporting feature - but interesting still in it's own way. It is based on a novel by Phyllis Bottone, author of The Mortal Storm and biographer of the psychologist Alfred Adler (The Will to Power).
Faye Emerson is the attractive heroine who is caught up by the charms o an evil Zachary Scott (very expert at this kind of role). Mona Freeman her sister. The film moves along quite quickly, showing Scott’s villainy his charm, the attraction of Emerson and Freeman, the disillusionment -and the temptation to murder. There is some psychological background -and analysis of Scott's compulsions. The film was directed by Robert Florey (God is my Co- Pilot, The Beast with Five Fingers).
1. Entertaining psychological thriller of the 40s? In its time? Now?
2. Warner Bros. production values, black and white photography? Musical score? The stars?
3. The title, the focus, on Mason, on Hilda?
4. The focus on Mason, the opening, the death of the woman, the landlady, his suspicious behaviour, getting out the window, escaping, his fall? The information about him, the newspapers, the police? Changing names, trying to find accommodation? His skill at writing? Encounter with Hilda, his charm, charming her Mother? Staying in the house, taking the Mother to the movies etc? His story writing and non-acceptance? Dating Hilda, the drive, the car breakdown, the meal, staying the night? The proposal but it being kept secret? The dead woman's ring and his stories? The meeting with Anne, charm, hearing about the money, playing the double game, secrecy, plausible explanations? out dancing? Hilda's discovery of the truth? His sense of menace? His note with her writing and the suicide dialogue? His threats of murder? His being lured to the beach spot, the interview with the psychiatrist and his charming her? The egotist? The meal, the change with Hilda? His fear that he was poisoned? Leaving the house, seeing the dead woman's husband, the chase and his fall over the cliff? Rapid retribution? Zachary Scott's portrait of an evil man?
5. Hilda, bespectacled, the typist, Dr Lang's attention? Work, relationship with her Mother, care for Anne? Her not wanting a boarder? Succumbing to Mason's Charm? Out with him, the weekend, the meal, the engagement, the secrecy? Anne's return? Overhearing him, accepting his explanations? Not working with Dr Lang? The inventory? The finding out of the truth, her psychologist friend, the gun, the psychologist explaining she couldn’t shoot him? The laboratory, taking the botulism virus? The telegram, the confrontation with Mason, the meal, telling him he was poisoned? Her not being able to do it? The happy ending - Dr Lang?
6. Anne, in a sanatorium, her return, wilful, charmed by Mason, realizing the infatuation of Hilda, going out with him, defiance? Bunky and the past dates? The final reconciliation?
7. Dr Lang, the absentminded scientist, devotion to Hilda, proposals, the secretary urging him on, the anxiety about the virus, speeding and alluding the police? The happy ending?
8. The psychologist, her analysis, friendship with Hilda? The dinner with Mason, analysing him, inviting him to the beach house? Her concern to save the murder?
9. The mother, charmed, wanting to help, believing Mason, her love for Hilda and her being jilted?
10. Popular ingredients, triangles, the charming rake, murder, the police investigation, the injured husband and his pursuit of the killer? The rapid resolution? Enjoyable supporting feature?
