Escape to Danger (1943, Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak, Karel Stepanek) – Classic Movie Review 12,587

The 1943 black and white World War Two espionage thriller film Escape to Danger stars Eric Portman and Ann Dvorak. Unfortunately, it is thought to be a lost film that disappeared at some point since its original release on 12 July 1943.

Directors Lance Comfort and Victor Hanbury’s 1943 black and white World War Two espionage thriller film Escape to Danger stars Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak, and Karel Stepanek. Unfortunately, this is thought to be a lost film that has disappeared from cinemas and TV at some point since its original release on 12 July 1943.

Ann Dvorak stars as English teacher Joan Grahame, a double agent in Nazi-occupied Denmark, reporting to the Chief of the Gestapo Franz Von Brinkmann (Karel Stepanek) but actually working for the Resistance. When he sends her on a mission to England apparently for the Nazis, she is dogged by creepy Brit Arthur Lawrence, a nice drunk (Eric Portman) who really is a spy in the service of the Crown. But her real plan is to attract the German ships out to sea so the allies can sink them.

RKO made it in Britain, so it is full of welcome home-grown stalwarts like Felix Aylmer, A E Matthews, Brefni O’Rorke and Marjorie Rhodes.

The screenplay by Wolfgang Wilhelm and Jack Whittingham is based on a story by Patrick Kirwin.

Also in the cast are Karel Stepanek, Ronald Ward, Ronald Adam, Lily Kann, David Peel, Charles Victor, Ivor Barnard, George Merritt, Hay Petrie, Ian Fleming (the actor), and George Woodbridge.

The music composed by William Alwyn is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under conductor Muir Mathieson.

Escape to Danger is directed by Lance Comfort and Victor Hanbury, runs 92 minutes, is made by RKO Radio British Productions, is released by RKO, is written by Wolfgang Wilhelm and Jack Whittingham, based on a story by Patrick Kirwin, is shot in black and white by Guy Green, is produced by William Sistrom, and is scored by William Alwyn, with Art Direction by William C Andrews.

The cast are Eric Portman as Arthur Lawrence, Ann Dvorak as Joan Grahame, Karel Stepanek as Franz von Brinkman, Ronald Ward as Rupert Chessman, Ronald Adam as George Merrick, Felix Aylmer as Sir Alfred Horton, Brefni O’Rorke as Security Officer, A E Matthews as Sir Thomas Leighton, Ivor Barnard as Henry Waud, David Peel as Lt. Peter Leighton, Charles Victor as Petty Officer Flanagan, George Merritt as Works Manager, Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs Pickles, John Ruddock as Jim, Frederick Cooper as Gösta, Lily Kann, Hay Petrie, Ian Fleming (the actor), and George Woodbridge.

It is a companion piece follow-up to Lance Comfort’s 1942 British RKO film Squadron Leader X, also with Eric Portman and Ann Dvorak, which is included on the BFI’s 75 Most Wanted list of missing British feature films.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,587

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