A Cry in the Night *** (1956, Raymond Burr, Edmond O’Brien, Brian Donlevy, Natalie Wood, Richard Anderson, Irene Hervey) – Classic Movie Review 8900

‘THE TEEN-AGE DATE IN LOVERS’ LANE THEY’LL NEVER LET HER FORGET!’

Director Frank Tuttle’s 1956 film noir A Cry in the Night stars Raymond Burr, who is typecast again as a creepy, mother-fixated heavy and peeping Tom, in fact a peeping Harold Loftus, who snatches the young and lovely Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Taggart (Natalie Wood) from the park at Lovers’ Loop, putting her teen boyfriend Owen Clark (Richard Anderson) out of action in the process.

But her over-protective cop captain father Captain Dan Taggart (Edmond O’Brien) sets off in pursuit, along with Captain Ed Bates (Brian Donlevy).

A Cry in the Night is a fairly compelling psychological crime thriller, with a familiar but good premise, decent plotting and dialogue, and fine performances in intriguing, well-etched characters. At least you can’t drop off with all the noisy histrionic performances. And it is shot in black and white by John F Seitz with just the right noir touch.

David Dortort’s screenplay is based on the novel All Through the Night by Whit Masterson.

Producer Alan Ladd’s voice can be heard as the Opening Narrator.

Also in the cast are Irene Hervey, Carol Veazle, Mary Lawrence, Anthony Caruso, George J Lewis, Peter Hansen, Tina Carver and Herb Vigran, with Robert Foulk, John Cliff, Fred Kelsey, Ron Hargrave, Charles Cane, Jack Mower, Syd Saylor, Harlan Warde, Dick Crockett, Jack Daly and Hal K Dawson.

A Cry in the Night is directed by Frank Tuttle, runs 75 minutes, is made by Ladd Enterprises and Jaguar Productions, is released by Warner Bros, written by David Dortort, based on the novel All Through the Night by Whit Masterson, shot in black and white by John F Seitz, produced by George C Bertholon and Alan Ladd (uncredited), and scored by David Buttolph, with Production Design by Malcolm C Bert.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8900

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Raymond Burr and Natalie Wood in A Cry in the Night (1956).