Cry Wolf (Warner Bros.) (1947)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Vy be THE STORY (Not for Publication) At the Caldwell family's luxurious country estate, Sandra Demarest (Barbara Stanwyck) informs distinguished scientist Mark Caldwell (Errol Flynn) that she is entitled to a widow's share of the fortune left by Caldwell's nephew, Jim (Richard Basehart). She explains she married Jim secretly five months ago, agreeing to divorce him after six months, to help Jim get control of his fortune which, otherwise, would be held in trust by Mark until Jim reached the age of 30. That night Jim's young sister Julie (Geraldine Brooks) quarrels with Mark, accusing him of ruining her current romance. Jim is buried and Sandra, to please Julie, agrees to stay on for a short time. During the night, Sandra and Julie hear a man's screams issuing from Mark's locked laboratory and are convinced that it's Jim, alive and imprisoned. Next morning Mark chides Julie for her "imagination" in this matter. Another night Sandra hears a loud crash and a woman's shrill shriek. Investigating, she finds Julie lying dead on the stone terrace below her bedroom window. Mark explains that Julie must have been running away and guesses that she lost her footing and fell to her death below. Sandra openly accuses Mark of having caused Julie's death. Mark prepares to close the house following Julie's funeral but Sandra is desperately determined to find out whether Jim is dead or alive before she leaves. She takes a last ride on horseback over the extensive estate and discovers Jim, alive, held prisoner on a remote part of the estate.. He is confused and mumbles something about ''staying here with the caretaker" (John Ridgely) to recover from the "'‘accident.'' News of Julie's death stirs him back to life and they plan his escape. Back at the house, Sandra finds Mark alone, the servants gone. When she confronts him with the fact that Jim is alive, he explains as follows: the father of Jim and Julie died in a sanitarium, incurably insane; the taint touched both children. Jim, following an accident, had grown excessively violent and had killed a man. Mark was able to have Jim committed into his care, provided Jim was rigidly confined for life. At that moment Sandra, terrified, watches as Jim crawls up stealthily behind Mark. In one leap, Jim attacks and knocks him out. Sandra runs into the house and up the big stairway but Jim catches her and begins to choke her. At that moment, the caretaker overtakes Jim from behind and they engage in a fierce struggle during which Jim falls backward over the balustrade and crashes to his death in the big hall below. Sandra, terribly shaken, is hysterical but Mark, recovered now, consoles her tenderly. It is apparent that they are in love and now they are free to admit it. Yikes 1s THE CAST Vhs ts THE PRODUCTION STAFF Mark: Caldwell oo ol3 tee tates ERROL FLYNN Sandra Marshall ............00.0.0...... BARBARA STANWYCK Produced by Henry Blanke. Directed by Peter Godfrey. Dulte Demimrests.(006 ioe richie pane Geraldine Brooks Screen: Play by. Catitorine vlimetey; nam Iie, Nescuey Marjorie Carleton. Director of Photography, Carl GuthUAMOS ADEMIBESE ice oN aera Richard Basehart rie, A.S.C. Art Director, Carl Jules Weyl. Film Editor, Folmar Blangsted. Sound by Charles Lang. Dialogue Director, Felix Jacoves. Set Decorations by Jack McJackson LATO iy elena ata ceaekces John Ridgely Conaghy. Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore. Special Effects by William McGann. Director—Robert Burks, Sanator. Calewell tel Deh Soe ee Jerome Cowan PRR oh Otic statin Cone ee Patricia White AiS.C,; Wardrobe by ‘Travia: Miss Stanwyek'c Woe deabe CR oe elias ela Reena a oa Rory Mallinson by Edith Head. Music by Franz Waxman; Orchestral sais Halenies Themig Arrangements by Leonid Raab; Musical Director, Leo F. dg rere Merger ho ice oe Forbstein. Assistant Director, Claude Archer. NVM Sie Oca, acct aig. aueticae’ Paul Stanton PRODIRUTE (RPFOOIND: <Jcccca stacks ss scdbyente ema Fanti: Berry Bernard RUNAHING TIMEs 83 miinmSe Country of Origin U.S.A. Copyright 1947 Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Cormerafion