“Background to Danger” (1943) directed by Raul Walsh; starring George Raft, Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre / Z-View
Background to Danger (1943)
Director: Raoul Walsh
Screenplay: W.R. Burnett; based on UNCOMMON DANGER by Eric Ambler
Stars: George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen, Willard Robertson,
Kurt Katch and Turhan Bey.
Tagline: GEORGE RAFT Rougher and tougher than ever! FIGHTS THE FAT MAN SYDNEY GREENSTREET You can trust him as far as you can throw him!
The Plot…
1942. World War II rages. Because Turkey is neutral, the United States, Russia and Germany have embassies trying to sway the country. Spies are everywhere.
Joe Barton (Raft) is traveling by train in Turkey when he meets a pretty woman. Barton sees a man staring at the woman. He asks if she needs help. She asks Barton to hold some papers for her. They will meet at her hotel once they arrive at their destination. Barton agrees.
Barton is followed to his hotel. In his room he is searched but the papers aren’t found. Later, after he’s made sure he wasn’t tailed, Barton heads to the hotel where the woman is staying. When he goes to her room, he discovers she’s been murdered. Barton hides when another man enters the room. As the man goes through the woman’s things, Barton escapes. He’s followed by the man who entered behind him.
Barton realizes the papers are valuable. But to which country? Barton has been set-up as the woman’s murderer. The authorities, Russian and German spies want the information in Barton’s possession.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In the source novel, the character George Raft plays was a salesman. Raft demanded that his character be changed to an undercover FBI agent using the salesman job as a cover.
The last scene in this film shows an airplane taking off. The scene was taken from Casablanca. Interestingly enough, George Raft was offered the starring role in Casablanca, but turned it down. It became one of Humphrey Bogart’s most popular roles and the film is considered a classic.
Background to Danger (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.