Outrage *** (1950, Mala Powers, Tod Andrews, Robert Clarke) – Classic Movie Review 10,660

Ida Lupino’s first credited co-writing and directing enterprise Outrage (1950) is a worthy, earnest tale of a raped woman called Ann Walton (Mala Powers) who understandably heads for a nervous breakdown after her terrible experience. She relocates with a new name to California where minister the Rev Bruce Ferguson (Tod Andrews) looks after her. But she relives her experience when a ranch hand tries to kiss her and she is arrested after she nearly kills him.

This harrowing, pioneering story is very interesting and quite well done in film noir crime drama style, if none too enjoyable, but that is not really surprising considering the subject matter.

Also in the cast are Robert Clarke, Raymond Bond, Lillian Hamilton [Lilian Hamilton] Rita Lupino, Hal March, Kenneth Patterson, Jerry Paris, Angela Clarke, Roy Engel, Lovyss Bradley, Hamilton Camp, William Challee, and Tristram Coffin.

It is written for the screen by Collier Young, Malvin Wald and Ida Lupino.

Outrage is shot in black and white.

It is shot in Marysville, California.

The Production Code office removed the words ‘sex maniac’, ‘sex fiend’, ‘rape’ and ‘rapist’ from the screenplay before it was approved and production could start. Especially given the serious nature of the script, that must be considered a bit of an outrage.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,660

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