I Live on Danger (1942)
'I Live on Danger,' With Chester Morris, at the Rialto.
By Bosley Crowther
Published: August 22, 1942
It is a matter of public record— well, cinematic record, anyhow—that Chester Morris walks into and out of jeopardy like most people go around in revolving doors. Mr. Morris wouldn't feel at ease in a picture unless he were up to his eyelashes in peril, and his audience—of which there are several — wouldn't tolerate him if he weren't. So Paramount is telling us nothing about Chet the Square-Shooter that we don't know in the title of "I Live on Danger," which came to the Rialto yesterday. And the picture is showing us very little that we haven't already seen.
This time Mr. Morris is playing his familiar game of tag with Fate as a special-events broadcaster who, apparently, never takes off his hat. Fires, ship sinkings and prizefights are funneled through his microphone with cool dispatch. But he finds himself somewhat rudely hoist by his own petard when he rigs the sensational capture of a suspected criminal who, as sometimes occurs, is not only innocent but has a sister. And thus Mr. Morris cannot rest until he squeezes a broadcasted confession out of the real culprit at the bottom of a deserted mine, and thus takes the load off his conscience which has stood between him and the girl.
Needless to say, "I Live on Danger" is an action melodrama of the low variety and Mr. Morris, Jean Parker and a slight cast play it with melodramatics that are equally low. But, somehow, a lot of movie people manage to live on this type of film.
I LIVE ON DANGER; screen play by Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy and Lewis Foster; based on a story by Mr. Foster and Alex Gottlieb; directed by Sam White; produced by William H. Pine and William C. Thomas for Paramount Pictures. At the Rialto.
Jeff Morrell . . . . . Chester Morris
Susan Richards . . . . . Jean Parker
Mrs. Morrell . . . . . Elizabeth Risdon
Eddie Nelson . . . . . Edward Norris
Norman Thompson . . . . . Dick Purcell
Bert Jannings . . . . . Roger Pryor
Joey Farr . . . . . Douglas Fowley
Angie Moss . . . . . Ralph Sanford
Wingie Keeler . . . . . Edwin Maxwell
Inspector Conlon . . . . . Joe Cunningham
"Longshot" Harrison . . . . . Billy Nelson
