Desperate (1947)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Steve Randall (Steve Brodie) is an independent trucker who is hired by an old friend to haul some freight. Only when Steve arrives at the warehouse, does he discover he has been hired to haul away stolen goods. Steve wants no part of the plot and resists, but a cop is killed as they're committing the burglary, and all except one manage to get away. Later, after kidnapping and assaulting Steve, the criminals, led by Walt Radak (Raymond Burr), threaten to mutilate Randall's wife (Audrey Long) unless Steve confesses to the murder committed by Radak's brother Al (Larry Nunn), captured during the theft and sentenced to death for the cop-killing. Steve plays along with the criminals just long enough to escape. He takes his wife and leaves town, heading cross country. The couple are then pursued by both the cops and the crooks. Steve then discovers his wife is pregnant with their first child, making the stakes even higher that they get away to safety. - Actors:
- Steve Brodie, Audrey Long, Raymond Burr, Douglas Fowley, William Challee, Jason Robards Sr., Freddie Steele, Lee Frederick, Paul E. Burns, Ilka Grüning, Ernie Adams, Erville Alderson, Leon Alton, George Anderson, William Bailey, George Barrows, Jack Baxley, Robert Bray, Kay Christopher, Robert Clarke
- Directors:
- Anthony Mann
- Writers:
- Harry Essex, Martin Rackin
- Aka:
- Flight
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Thrillers
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- Not released
- Run Time:
- 75 minutes
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Reviews (1) of Desperate
Forties Noir. - Desperate review by Steve
One of about half a dozen good quality B-noirs directed after WWII by Anthony Mann, before he specialised in westerns. And there's a unique opportunity for prolific support actor Steve Brodie to star as an honest truck driver duped into a warehouse robbery and forced to go on the run with his pregnant wife to escape the mob.
So it's a road noir as the couple seek refuge on the rural highways, and rely on the kindness of strangers. The fall guy is just out the armed forces, which gives us the genre motif of the WWII veteran coming home to find the country he fought for is corrupt. And with just one stroke of misfortune the destiny of anyone may lead to ruin.
Still, then as now, a background in the marines is a shorthand for the potential to fight back. Brodie is well cast, as his lack of star charisma makes him a convincing everyman. And there's an impression of how much he has to lose in his idyllic marriage to Audrey Long who is convincing as the perky homemaker; though maybe she lacks agency!
The screen is dominated by the threat of Raymond Burr as the mentally unstable gang leader who creates a fine double act with his entirely rational sidekick (William Challee). There are some effective noir lighting set ups toward the climax and Mann whips up plenty of suspense aided by the unsettling score. This is a very durable low budget thriller.