Double Danger

There's a jewel thief of several years standing who leaves calling cards; there's also mystery novelist Preston Foster, who writes a series about a jewel thief; the spine of his books bears the same symbol as the thief's calling card. Police Commissioner Samuel S. Hinds has gotten the idea that the two may be linked. Or it may be lovely Whitney Bourne. So, with the connivance of jeweler Donald Meek, he arranges for both of them to be present at Hinds' palatial manor with the latest set of impressive diamonds on hand, hoping to see who winds up with them.

There is some nice subtext in this typical RKO programmer, with most of the important characters sporting at least two identities, and everyone on hand gives the impression they're having a good time, and hoping Hinds gets his man (or woman), while watching the two suspects fall attractively in love. It's the mediocre handling of director Lew Landers that stops it from being more than a good programmer. With Paul Guilfoyle, Cecil Kellaway, Arthur Lake, and Vivien Oakland.

Double Danger (1938)

* (out of 4)

Lew Landers (The Raven) directed this mystery about a group of people invited to a police captain's house so that they can lay a trap for a thief. This film runs 61-minutes and I could have sworn it was going on longer than Roots. There's really not a life of energy in this film, which took me by surprise since Landers is usually able to bring something to these low-budget films. Preston Foster, Whitney Bourne, Samuel S. Hinds, Donald Meek and Cecil Kellaway star.

I enjoy coming across these rare films on Turner Classic Movies but this one here is probably the worst I've watched. Landers is a favorite director of mine but this film just didn't cut it.

Pretty creaky film by 1938 standards. Seems like it would be more at home circa 1930. While you watch this remember that Gone With The Wind would be released just one year later. Sure Double Danger had a low budget but really...this plays like one of the early talkies. The ones before they figured out how to use sound.

The character of "The Gentleman" jewel thief appears to be a royalty free way to use the character of "The Saint". But then since when has the movie industry been worried about such things? "The Falcon" anyone?

Nice to see a pre-Blondie Arthur Lake acting pretty much the same as he would 15+ years later in that series.

This tongue-in-cheek romantic caper from RKO stars handsome Preston Foster as crime writer Robert Crane who bases his novels on his secret life as a suave jewel thief. Commissioner David Theron (versatile character actor Samuel Hinds) is out to trap the elusive bandit, nicknamed "The Gentleman," by inviting the two most likely suspects for a weekend at his suburban estate. The bait is the famous Konjer diamonds (or are they the fakes?) stashed away in Theron's safe. Crane, who Theron has befriended and helped with story ideas in the past, and the lovely Carolyn Morgan (Whitney Bourne) are the guests. Each arrives with an accomplice and all four are after the booty, out-conning each other throughout the night. Plenty of humor and some nice location shots of the high-class neighborhoods of southern California in 1938.

"Double Danger" is a B-movie that, in some ways, reminds me of Errol Flynn's terrific "Footsteps in the Dark". In "Footsteps", Flynn plays a writer who later investigates a crime and tries to out-investigate the police. Well, in "Double Danger", Bob Crane (Preston Foster) is a crime writer who works the OTHER side of the law...he commits crimes!! He has created an alter-ego, 'The Gentleman' and early in the film he manages to steal from another crook. Unfortunately for them both, they get invited to Inspector Theoron's house...and perhaps it's because they are suspects.

So is it any good? Yes...for a B-movie. But it's inconsequential and a film you certainly DON'T need to rush to see.