Dangerous Moonlight (1941)

Director:

Brian Desmond Hurst

Writer:

Terence Young (original story and screenplay)

Release Date:

20 April 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

During World War II, an American newswoman falls for a refugee Polish piano virtuoso...who wants to go back and fight.

Plot Keywords:

Air Raid | Flashback | Impresario | Male Female Relationship | Kansas City

Cast

Anton Walbrook	...	Stefan 'Steve' Radetzky
Sally Gray	...	Carol Peters Radetzky
Derrick De Marney	...	Michael 'Mike' Carroll, Radetzky's manager
Cecil Parker	...	Specialist
Percy Parsons	...	Bill Peters
Kenneth Kent	...	Andre De Guise, the impressario (as Keneth Kent)
J.H. Roberts	...	Residing physician
Guy Middleton	...	Shorty
John Laurie	...	British commander
Frederick Valk	...	Polish bomber commander
O.B. Clarence	...	Waiter with tray of wine
James Pirrie		(as James Perrie)
Marian Spencer	...	Miss Gratton, De Guise's secretary (as Marion Spencer)
Leslie Gordon		(as Lesley Gordon)
Philip Friend	...	Pete, RAF pilot

Also Known As:

Suicide Squadron (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

94 min | USA:82 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #8133) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

D&P Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

RKO Radio British Productions

Trivia:

Although this was a British RKO production, RKO leased it to Republic Pictures for release in the United States. However, RKO distributed it in England.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Shepperton Babylon (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Warsaw Concerto

A DVD With Subtitles Would Help This One

This is another case where if this movie was available on DVD with English subtitles, I might enjoy it. As it was, seeing it on VHS I had to strain to understand half the dialog of Anton Walbrook, who plays a Polish man, "Steve Radetzky." His combination British-Polish accent was tough to decipher and it totally takes away from enjoying the film.

Also a warning for those who read on the VHS box about the "great action scenes." Those don't take place until the very end of the movie! It's hardly a great film to begin with, with a very dated look to it with the hokey backgrounds scenes somewhat cheap production values.

One thing that is not cheap or dated: the fine music. Our main character is a pianist as few people ever complain listening to someone play "The Warsaw Concerto." I've also never complained looking at Sally Gray's face!

However, your best bet is to buy the CD for the music and skip the film, although at slightly over an-hour-and-a-half, it's not a long film one has to endure to get through....but don't expect a lot of excitement here.