A Dangerous Profession
| A Dangerous Profession | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ted Tetzlaff |
| Produced by | Robert Sparks |
| Written by |
Warren Duff Martin Rackin |
| Starring |
George Raft Ella Raines Pat O'Brien |
| Narrated by | Jim Backus |
| Music by |
Frederick Hollander Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Robert De Grasse |
| Edited by | Frederic Knudtson |
| Distributed by | RKO Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
A Dangerous Profession is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff, written by Warren Duff and Martin Rackin, and starring George Raft, Ella Raines, and Pat O'Brien.[2][3] The supporting cast features Jim Backus.
Plot
The story begins as Police Lt. Nick Ferrone (Jim Backus) explains what bail bondsmen do and tells the viewers the setting is Los Angeles, California. One such man is Vince Kane (George Raft), a former police detective who worked with Ferrone. When one of his customers, Claude Brackett (Bill Williams), is murdered, Kane decides to investigate. He has two reasons for investigating: the curiosity of a former cop and it seems that he has fallen in love with Brackett's widow Lucy, an old flame.
Cast
- George Raft as Vince Kane
- Ella Raines as Lucy Brackett
- Pat O'Brien as Joe Farley
- Bill Williams as Claude Brackett
- Jim Backus as Police Lt. Nick Ferrone
- Roland Winters as Jerry McKay
- Betty Underwood as Elaine Storm
- Robert Gist as Roy Collins, aka Max Gibney
- David Wolfe as Matthew Dawson
Production
The film was known as The Bail Bond Story. Jean Wallace played the female lead but was fired after four days.[4]
Reception
Box Office
The film recorded a loss of $280,000.[5]
Critical
The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, and wrote, "Laconic and familiarly tough are the words for Raft's performance as the torch-bearing bail bonds-man. Ella Raines is decorative if little else as the object of his affections; Pat O'Brien contributes a standard portrayal as his hard business partner; James Backus is professional as a tenacious detective lieutenant and Bill Williams is adequate in the brief role of the embezzler. A Dangerous Profession, in short, proves that the bail-bond business can be dangerous and that it also can be the basis for an exceedingly ordinary adventure."[6]
References
- ↑ "A Dangerous Profession: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
- ↑ A Dangerous Profession at the Internet Movie Database.
- ↑ Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 143-144
- ↑ THEDA BARA MOVIE GOES TO COLUMBIA: De Sylva's 'The Great Vampire' Will Be Distributed by Studio -- 'Champion' Suit Ruling By THOMAS F. BRADYSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 07 May 1949: 10.
- ↑ Richard B. Jewell, Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures, Uni of California, 2016
- ↑ The New York times. Film review, "A Dangerous Profession, With George Raft Playing a Bail Bondsman", December 12, 1949. Last accessed: January 18, 2008.
External links
- A Dangerous Profession at the Internet Movie Database
- A Dangerous Profession at AllMovie
- A Dangerous Profession at the TCM Movie Database
- A Dangerous Profession film preview on YouTube