JasparLamarCrabb Review of On Dangerous Ground

On Dangerous Ground (1951)

Just because it's buried doesn't mean it's a treasure

[6/10 · 31 May 2017]

It's tempting to call this forgotten Nicholas Ray film a buried treasure but it's simply not. It's certainly not as well known as the director's landmark films REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE or JOHNNY GUITAR and that may have to due with the fact that it's not a successful film. Attempting to meld film noir with cinematic pathos is a noble effort that Ray does not pull off. Robert Ryan is a very burnt-out city cop sent to the country to help capture the killer of a small girl. He meets up with Ida Lupino, the sister of the murderer, and learns a lot about himself and patience and understanding. The fact that Lupino is blind is symbolism at its most obvious as she becomes the only person to soften Ryan's hardness. While it's not sentimental, it's also not particularly dramatic. The acting is good with Ray getting the most out of a very reliable cast (Ed Begley and Ward Bond are also in it). The film is nearly stolen by Sumner Williams as Lupino's emotionally troubled brother. He's a mess. The music score by Bernard Herrmann is a stunner.