The Reckless Moment (1949)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Max Ophüls

Writers:

Mel Dinelli (adaptation)
Henry Garson (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 December 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Plot:

After discovering the dead body of Bea Harper's lover, Bea's mother Lucia hides the body under the assumption...

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Beautiful Woman | Body Disposal | Car Accident | Mother Daughter Relationship

Cast

James Mason	...	Martin Donnelly
Joan Bennett	...	Lucia Harper
Geraldine Brooks	...	Bea Harper
Henry O'Neill	...	Tom Harper
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Ted Darby
David Bair	...	David Harper
Roy Roberts	...	Nagel

Also Known As:

The Blank Wall (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #13937) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Quotes:

Lucia Harper: Just once, David, I'd like to see you fully clothed.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Maternal Overdrive (2006) (V)

Not a wasted frame

Near perfect, this is a marvellous and magical non stop emotional thriller with the camera moving with such fluidity we can only stare in wonder. As the camera swirls, so does the middle class family of Joan Bennett. She is constantly keeping the plates in the air, cheering them along chiding them at dinner or suggesting changes of clothes. When trouble strikes it is she who has to confront the big bad world and visit the boat shed, the less salubrious parts of town and confront people and issues she never has before. All seems to depend upon her and James mason's character appears forcing financial worries on top of all else. Until he falls for her and begins to relent and finally even more. Not a wasted frame.