An unemployed architect meets a married woman with a business proposition. The architect soon suspect her interest isn't just financial - and might be deadly.An unemployed architect meets a married woman with a business proposition. The architect soon suspect her interest isn't just financial - and might be deadly.An unemployed architect meets a married woman with a business proposition. The architect soon suspect her interest isn't just financial - and might be deadly.
Jeane Wood
- Mabel - Maid
- (as Jean Wood)
Fred Aldrich
- Suspicious Stranger
- (uncredited)
Forbes Murray
- Businessman
- (uncredited)
Bing Russell
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre
- Bar Patron
- (uncredited)
Bert Stevens
- Restaurant Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe unusual convertible Doris Hillman (Dame Angela Lansbury) drove was a Kaiser Darrin. Only 435 production Darrins and six prototypes were built. Its entry doors slid on tracks into the front fender wells behind the front wheels, which was patented in 1946, had no side windows and a three-position Landau top. The car's only criticism by enthusiasts was the front grill, which looked like it "wanted to give you a kiss."
- GoofsIf the bartender who carded Madge had looked closer, he would have seen that it had to be a fake: Her address is listed as "Las Palmas St., Hollywood," but the street in Hollywood named Las Palmas is actually an avenue, and would be designated as such on an official document. Also, Las Palmas runs north and south, so the street number would also require a north or south designation.
- Quotes
Mabel, the maid: You better call out when you get to the guest house. Sometimes she swims in the nude.
Edward Shaw: Don't worry about it. So do I.
- SoundtracksSummer Interlude
Written by Hank McCune and Les Baxter
Featured review
Angela Lansbury - a sexy seductress
Yes, once, Angela Lansbury was young with a good figure (which I think she still has) and a sexy way about her.
In 1955's "A Life at Stake" she plays Doris Hillman, a woman who propositions a down-and-out architect, Edward Shaw (Keith Andes) with a business plan where she will buy property and he will put up houses. He had done this previously but he was bilked out of $37,000, (327,700 in today's money) some of which had been put up by friends. In the end he lost everything.
The flirtatious and seductive Hillman says that her husband (Douglas Dumbrille) will put up the money but that Shaw will have to buy keyman insurance for $250,000, which is $2.2 million today. This is business insurance that compensates for financial losses that would arise from the death or incapacity of an important member of a company.
Well it isn't hard to figure out what's going on, and it doesn't take Shaw that long either, even though he and Hillman fall for one another and begin sneaking around. He dodges several cars and a car where the brakes slip -- trying to stay alive is difficult around these people, but the police want proof. On top of this, he has met Hillman's sister (Claudia Barrett) and she's fallen for him.
Pretty good noir. I noticed on the reviews that many people aren't familiar with Keith Andes. He had a small but decent film career, in films such as The Farmer's Daughter, Clash by Night, Tora Tora Tora, and And Justice for All, as examples. He starred on TV in a series, This Man Dawson, and was in dozens of prime time shows up until 1980.
Most notably, he appeared on Broadway with Lucille Ball in Wildcat - he had a beautiful baritone voice; he also did Kiss Me, Kate on Broadway and toured in Man of La Mancha. At the age of 85, beset by health issues, he committed suicide.
Definitely worth seeing for young Angela and Keith Andes was certainly a hunk - he had his shirt off a lot of the time.
In 1955's "A Life at Stake" she plays Doris Hillman, a woman who propositions a down-and-out architect, Edward Shaw (Keith Andes) with a business plan where she will buy property and he will put up houses. He had done this previously but he was bilked out of $37,000, (327,700 in today's money) some of which had been put up by friends. In the end he lost everything.
The flirtatious and seductive Hillman says that her husband (Douglas Dumbrille) will put up the money but that Shaw will have to buy keyman insurance for $250,000, which is $2.2 million today. This is business insurance that compensates for financial losses that would arise from the death or incapacity of an important member of a company.
Well it isn't hard to figure out what's going on, and it doesn't take Shaw that long either, even though he and Hillman fall for one another and begin sneaking around. He dodges several cars and a car where the brakes slip -- trying to stay alive is difficult around these people, but the police want proof. On top of this, he has met Hillman's sister (Claudia Barrett) and she's fallen for him.
Pretty good noir. I noticed on the reviews that many people aren't familiar with Keith Andes. He had a small but decent film career, in films such as The Farmer's Daughter, Clash by Night, Tora Tora Tora, and And Justice for All, as examples. He starred on TV in a series, This Man Dawson, and was in dozens of prime time shows up until 1980.
Most notably, he appeared on Broadway with Lucille Ball in Wildcat - he had a beautiful baritone voice; he also did Kiss Me, Kate on Broadway and toured in Man of La Mancha. At the age of 85, beset by health issues, he committed suicide.
Definitely worth seeing for young Angela and Keith Andes was certainly a hunk - he had his shirt off a lot of the time.
helpful•210
- blanche-2
- Sep 8, 2016
- How long is A Life at Stake?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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