Danger Signal (Warner Bros.) (1945)

Warners’ ‘Danger Signal’ Absorbing Screen Drama (Prepared Review) All the craftsmanlike elements which, fused together, produce a superior, absorbing screen drama, are present in Warner Bros.’ “Danger Signal,’’ which opened last night at the Strand with a superb company of players headed by Faye Emerson and Zachary Scott. Phyllis Bottome’s best-selling novel has, with typical Warner Bros. skill and thoroughness, been transformed into an extraordinarily adept, deeply moving film. The famous Warner way, bespeaking authenticity of approach and flawless handling of detail, is neatly demonstrated in the film, which was directed by Robert Florey under the production aegis of William Jacobs. Still 645-528 Mat 204—30c Suave Zachary Scott and lovely Faye Emerson are co-starved in Warners’ gripping new meiodrama, “Danger Signal,’ which opened last evening at the Strand Theatre. Featured in the supporting cast are Dick Erdman, Rosemary DeCamp, Bruce Bennett, Mona Freeman and John Ridgely. Indisputably Faye Emerson is a star of the first magnitude. This reviewer’s admiration for Miss Emerson as an actress of singular charm and persuasion, whose considerable talent has illuminated a score of cinema roles, becomes, on viewing Warner Bros.’ absorbing ‘Danger Signal,” something more than a consistent satisfaction with the work of a _ conscientious, easy-to-behold young screen player. With “Danger Signal,” in which Miss Emerson shares top starring honors with the effective Zachary Scott, she joins the ranks of the screen “gvreats”’—and more power to her. To the role of Hilda Fenchurch, public stenographer, Miss Emerson brings warmth and understanding, expertly shading the character of a good, perhaps typical young working woman, whose life is twisted by an insidious transmutation of human values: love turned to hate. Faye Emerson makes the part her own. But the triumph is not alone Miss Emerson’s. As the bland, insouciant Ronnie Marsh, consummate heel, Zachary Scott gives new indication of the artistry with which he is capable of investing a role; his skill at characterization, which first came to light when he recently made his screen debut as the suave and sinister killer of “The Mask of Dimitrios,’ far transcends the talents of the conventional leading man. Ronnie Marsh is no routine villain. No deep-dyed Legree, his color is rather mottled gray—and he is capable of genuine, if shortlived, good-guy exuberances. Thus, he is able to exercise an enormous attraction upon the otherwise sane, tempered and wise Hilda, whose white-collar existence has never known the likes of this smooth and hand some gentleman author. But Ronnie Marsh, unknown to Hilda, is fleeing a homicide, attempting, with Hilda’s unwitting connivance, to eliminate the traces of a sordid and incriminating murder. Since the power of “Danger Signal” on the screen is inherent in its deliniation of personality and in the constantly shifting adjustments of human relatonships, no review could do it justice, no outline of its plot convey the full flavor of the picture. The story is taut and gripping in its unfolding. Demonstrated are the warmth and affection which Hilda, acted by Faye Emerson, cherishes upon her mother and upon Anne, her vivacious young sister; the disrupting effect which Ronnie Marsh exercises upon the even and happy tenor of Hilda’s life; the opportunist attempts of Marsh to snare the affection of Anne, upon learning that she is to come imminently into a fortune, and the resulting withdrawal of the attentions he had lavished on Hilda. ° The film’s just-right cast also includes Rosemary de Camp, who effectively essays here the role of a woman psychiatrist to whom the distraught Hilda turns for advice and guidance. Mona Freeman is always convincing as the beautiful, gayspirited Anne, in whose eyes Ronnie can do no wrong. And in the role of Dr. Lang, Hilda’s sometime employer, Bruce Bennett adroitly sketches an intelligent, able and sincere man of science. Adapted by expert scripters Adele Commandini and Graham Baker, photographed by James Wong Howe, with a score by Adolph Deutsch, “Danger Signal” is a Warner Bros. tenstrike, a winning motion picture. Gripping Drama Due At Strand Theatre Friday (Advance Theatre Story) Casting a searching light upon the shadowy recesses of a woman’s mind and heart, “Danger Signal,” which comes to the Strand on Friday, is the dramatic story of a love which knew no limits—until it was betrayed. Phyllis Bottome’s bestselling novel of the same name, from which the film was adapted, was distinguished for its deep and accurate understanding of human relationships and weaknesses, highlighting the greatest decision which a woman in love could ever be forced to make. Features New Stars Co-starring Faye Emerson and Zachary Scott, important new stars, “Danger Signal’ recounts, with power and sympathy, the adventures of Hilda Fenchurch (Faye Emerson), a capable, intelligent young stenographer, whose’ white-collar routine was shattered one day when Ronnie Marsh (Zachary Scott) intruded upon her career, twisting and_ shattering not only her own life but casting also an indelible stamp upon her family, her friends—everyone and everything she held dear. Ronnie Marsh is no ordinary villain. Suave, self assured, outwardly gracious and even gentle, it is his great fortune to find refuge with the Fenchurch family, mother and daughters Hilda and Anne (Mona Freeman). For, as a lodger in Hilda’s home, he can take on the protective coloration of these good and kindly people and find relief from the pressing demands of his own conscience. Ronnie, the master opportunist, finds in Hilda’s love, comfort, which, like a blanket, will shelter him from the incriminating knowledge of his responsibility for the death of another man’s wife. Small-town reared Hilda, for all her good sense, cannot help but be impressed by the much-traveled, seemingly guileless Ronnie, a writer who has come to her town for reasons which he cannot clearly define, but which, for Hilda, blinded by love, seem sufficient and clear. Painful Awakening The film’s dramatic impetus derives from Hilda’s passionate conviction of Ronnie’s goodness, her slow, painful awakening when the disillusioning disclosure of his growing attentions to her young, gay-spirited sister, Anne, is made known to her. Bitterly she forces herself to realize that Ronnie’s affection for Anne is as spurious and deliberate as the love which he had lavished, short days before, on her. The impetuous Anne refuses to believe that Ronnie’s interest in her has been induced by the inheritance to which she will shortly fall heir. Even Mrs. Fenchurch, the girl’s mother, is taken in by the bland, convincing rascal. Hilda must fight it alone. And so the stage is set for as dramatic and absorbing a story of frustration, revenge and sacrifice as ever the screen offered. “Danger Signal,” starring Faye Emerson and Zachary Scott, was directed by Robert Florey for producer William Jacobs. In support of Miss Emerson and Mr. Scott are Dick Erdman, Rosemary DeCamp, Bruce Bennett, Mona Freeman and John Ridgely. Scenarists Adele Commandini and Graham Baker wrote the screenplay, which is based on the Phyllis Bottome novel. Photographed by James Wong Howe, “Danger Signal” has an original score by Adolph Deutsch. Cornered Still 645-67 Mat 203—30c Faye Emerson is surrounded by Rosemary DeCamp, Zachary Scott, and Bruce Bennett in a tense moment from Warner Bros.’ suspenseful new drama, "Danger Signal," currently at the Strand Theatre. Nei Warner Drama Now Playing At Strand Theatre (Current Theatre ‘Story) Intensely dramatic, always believable, “Danger Signal,” currently at the Strand, was courageously produced by Warner Bros. to demonstrate once more that in the hands of America’s hardest-hitting studio, an exciting best-seller can become a great motion picture. Phyllis Bottome’s remarkable and accurate exploration of the life of a young woman for whom love’s disrupting influence brought misery and heartbreak, turning a sun-bright romance into a near-tragedy, has been movingly screened by Warner Bros. with a cast assembled with painstaking care to insure the greatest fidelity to the characters of the printed page. As Hilda Fenchurch, young and attractive public stenographer, around whom the action of the drama is centered, Faye Emerson demonstrates a talent and conviction which more than justify her recent studio promotion to the coveted rank of “star.” Sympathetically, adroitly, Miss Emerson defines the personality of Hilda, the principal concern of whose small-town existence is her mother and younger sister. Selflessly, understandingly, Hilda devotes herself to these two, cherishing upon them the affection of a kind and intelligent woman. Co-Stars Scott “Danger Signal” offers, in the co-starring role of Ronnie Marsh, the rocketing Zachary Scott, whose exciting screen debut in the recent and eventful “The Mask of Dimitrios” immediately established him as an actor of great and fine promise. As Ronnie, the suave, bland sophisticate, product of a literary background, who combines a polished charm with a flair for homicide, his influence upon Hilda is immediate and _ pronounced. The usually sensible Hilda falls violently and foolishly in love with the handsome writer, who has_ taken lodgings in her home. Unknown to Hilda, and certainly unknown to her mother and sister, Ronnie has been implicated in the death of another man’s wife. For Ronnie, artful, suave, and not ungracious, Hilda and Hilda’s family serve to provide the haven he desperately requires. Therefore he encourages Hilda’s attentions. No more penetrating demon stration of the romantic triangle, with its hate-engendering connotations, can be imagined than one which involves sisters competing for the affection of the same man. ‘“Danger Signal” explores the implications of just such a situation, for the unscrupulous Ronnie turns from Hilda to Anne (Mona Freeman), her pretty vivacious young’ sister, when he learns that she (Anne) is shortty toe come into an inheritance, a small fortune. Anne and Ronnie enlist the sympathy of Mrs. Fenchurch (Mary Servoss), the girls’ mother, and since Hilda’s love for Ronnie has turned to ashes in her mouth, she is determined to expose him for the rogue he is and, if necessary, to destroy him. Unfolds Grippingly “Danger Signal” unfolds grippingly, relentlessly. Directed by Robert Florey for producer William Jacobs, the film features young Dick Erdman, remembered for “Janie” and ‘“Objective Burma,” also Rosemary DeCamp, Bruce Bennett and John Ridgely. .The screen play was authored by Adele Commandini and Graham Baker and was adapted from Phyllis Bottome’s original novel of the same name. Original music for the film was composed by Adolph Deutsch. Still FE-35 Mat 110—15c Faye Emerson co-stars with Zachary Scott in Warners’ latest melodrama, "Danger Signal,’ currently at the Strand, 3