DANGEROUS CORNER
US, 1934, 66 minutes, Black and white.
Virginia Bruce, Conrad Nagel, Melvyn Douglas, Erin O' Brien- Moore, Ian Keith, Betty Furness, Doris Lloyd.
Directed by Phil Rosen.
Dangerous Corner is very much a filmed play, this time by J. B. Priestley who had a prolific career writing novels, plays, and involved with adaptations of both for the cinema. He died in 1984 but the popularity of some of his work, especially his play and film and television versions of An Inspector Calls continue to be popular.
The strong cast of actors from the early 30s perform well and articulate the dialogue which demands audience attention.
What seems something of a drawing-room comedy at first, with a visit of a British novelist to the United States and contracts for her further novels, it moves into a drama amongst members of the staff of the publishing company and their wives.
A situation arises when it emerges that money has been Stalling from the safe of the company, with only the three men having keys. Later news comes the one of the men has killed himself.
The action takes place a year later, the inquest having been held and a suicide decision upheld. The lady novelist is present again, taking a keen interest in what happens when tensions arise. In later decades, audiences have become familiar with the film of the device where people gather in one room, truth starts to be told and secrets are revealed. In this film, the novelist has a theme: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.
There are quite some complicated relationships amongst the six people, their all being gradually revealed, love and infatuation, deception, the culprit who stole the money admitting it, surprising with the reasons for his acting like this, and the truth behind the death of the man – and its not being suicide.
The film is directed by Phil Rosen who worked as a cinematographer with Thomas Edison and he went on to direct a number of small-budget films. Dangerous Corner was filmed twice for television in the 1940s and 1960s.
1. From a play by J. B. Priestley, his reputation, novels, plays? From the 1930s?
2. Screenplay, the use of the dialogue of the play, the one set, the interiors, dialogue, conversation? Truth games, transformation? Let Sleeping Dogs Lie? Lies, omissions, the truth?
3. The cast from the 1930s?
4. The introduction to Ann, at home, breakfast, Charlie’s presence, his visit and the look? His devotion? The arrival of the author, British background, chatter, scandals? Contracts?
5. At the office, the gathering, Robert, his role, Charlie’s presence, Robert forgetting his wife’s anniversary, Charlie buying the watch, the gift, happiness? The need for money, going to the safe, the expected money, not there? The men and their keys? The mystery of who took the money? Suspicions on Martin?
6. The gathering, Robert and his wife, Gordon and Betty, Charlie and Ann, the author? Martin’s absence? Charlie going to his house, finding him dead, communicating the news?
7. The firm, promotions, the men in their jobs?
8. The emergence of the characters, each individual, friendships, interactions?
9. One year later, after the inquest? Martin and his suicide, the decision? People who gave testimony or who did not? The truth of the games, the gradual revelation? Robert’s wife, her being in love with Martin, the visit? Robert not appreciating anything of this? Not seeing it?
10. Ann, her love for Robert, Charlie understanding? Charlie organising things and his devotion to Ann? Gordon and Betty, Betty going home? The seemingly happy marriage? Charlie and his admitting stealing the money, for a cause? The reaction of the men, the denunciations?
11. The cigarette case and the music, and recognising it, the gift from Robert’s wife, Ann going to the house, the interaction with Martin, the speculation, the gun, the struggle,
his death? Charlie covering for her? Betty’s return, the brutal marriage, her dislike of Gordon? Her gambling, Charlie taking the money and giving it to her?
12. The revelations of each character, secrets and lies, Robert and his disillusionment and the consequences?
