On Dangerous Ground (1951)
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100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(1,050 ratings)
Robert Ryan plays Jim Wilson, a tough police detective embittered by years of dealing with low-life urban scum, in Nicholas Ray's moving film noir. After severely beating several suspects, Jim is assigned to a case far from the city to find the killer of a young girl. Joining the manhunt, in… More Robert Ryan plays Jim Wilson, a tough police detective embittered by years of dealing with low-life urban scum, in Nicholas Ray's moving film noir. After severely beating several suspects, Jim is assigned to a case far from the city to find the killer of a young girl. Joining the manhunt, in snow-covered terrain, Wilson finds himself paired with the victim's father, Walter Brent (Ward Bond), who plans to shoot the killer himself. When the two men come upon a cabin occupied by Mary Malden (Ida Lupino), a blind woman who is also the killer's sister, Wilson's life is changed forever. Mary, a generous and loving person who has cared for her mentally ill brother Danny (Sumner Williams) since the death of their parents, convinces Wilson to protect Danny from Brent. Wilson also promises to get help for Danny if he surrenders to him. Inspired by Mary's courage and recognizing Brent's rage as the mirror image of his own, Wilson gains the insight to free himself from his own blindness. The film includes a memorable score by Alfred Hitchcock favorite Bernard Herrmann. ~ Steve Press, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nicholas Ray, Ida Lupino
- Written By
- A.I. Bezzerides, Nicholas Ray
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1952 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
One of the loveliest of Nick Ray's movies.
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Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Haunting mix of police story, romance and tale of regeneration.
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Paul Brenner, Filmcritic.com
What succeeds in On Dangerous Ground is the raw emotionalism that bleeds out from the screen, unmatched in any of Ray's other films.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Nicholas Ray's classic noir starring Ryan and Lupino.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A realistic and often gripping crime yarn.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Ida Lupino
as Mary Malden
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Robert Ryan
as Jim Wilson
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Ward Bond
as Walter Brent
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Charles Kemper
as Bill Daly
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Anthony Ross
as Pete Santos
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Sumner Williams
as Danny Malden
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Ed Begley Sr.
as Capt. Brawley
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Ian Wolfe
as Carrey
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Gus Schilling
as Lucky
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Frank Ferguson
as Willows
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Cleo Moore
as Myrna
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Olive Carey
as Mrs. Brent
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Richard Irving
as Bernie
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Pat Prest
as Julie
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Eddie Borden
as Man
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William Challee
as Thug
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Jimmy Conlin
as Doc Hyman
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Joe Devlin
as Bartender
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Donald Dillaway
as Man
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Budd Fine
as Man
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Kate Lawson
as Woman
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Ruth Lee
as Helen
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Al Murphy
as Man
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Nestor Paiva
as Bagganierri
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Gene Persson
as Boy
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Steve Roberts
as Man
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Tracey Roberts
as Peggy Santos
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Nita Talbot
as Woman in Bar
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Ken Terrell
as Crook
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Esther Zeitlin
as Woman
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Frank Arnold
as Man
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A.I. Bezzerides
as Gatos
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Jim Drum
as Stretcher Bearer
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Art Dupuis
as Man
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Bill Hammond
as Fred
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Michael Lally
as Man
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W.J. O'Brien
as Hotel Clerk
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Vera Stokes
as Mother
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Homer Dickenson
as Man
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Joan Taylor
as Hazel
