Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #334 in VHS
• Released on: 1994-12-21
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 79 minutes

Customer Reviews

Raising a decayed spirit
Saccharine melodrama in which an actress in frank process of decadence is aided by a young architect who gets she resurges fro the ashes of the forgetfulness.

But is Bette Davis who once more, established the difference to earn herself the Academy Award in 1935 as Best actress.

..waiting patiently for the DVD release, whenever that may be.
I adore Bette Davis' films and this was one of my personal favorites. I'm honestly a little disappointed that there is about to be a third entry in the Bette Davis Collection from Warner Brothers and Dangerous is NOT included! It should have been released on DVD long ago but for whatever reason Warner (or somebody) is dragging their feet with restoring this one.

fine early Bette Davis vehicle
Bette Davis and Franchot Tone star in this early vehicle for Bette Davis entitled Dangerous. The plot moves along rather well even if it's a tad slow at times; and the convincing acting held my attention very well.

The action begins with Donald 'Don' Bellows (Franchot Tone) and his fiancée Gail Armitage (Margaret Lindsay) are out on the town and by chance Don notices the has-been actress Joyce Heath (Bette Davis). Joyce has fallen from fame because of a "jinx" that has somehow become associated with anyone whose life crosses with hers. Don takes pity on Joyce because she was such a great talent in the theater and now he finds her alcoholic and practically penniless. Don sends Gail home so that he can secretly move Joyce to his country home; Don wants to help Joyce recuperate and regain her strength there. Don sincerely wants to help Joyce.

However, things begin to change. Don and Joyce fall in love; and the plot really thickens when Don breaks his engagement to Gail to marry Joyce. Don has also put up a great deal of money to get Joyce a plum role in a major play so that Joyce can regain her lost stardom and fame.

Actually, there's still much more to the plot even though you may think I've told it all. Will any of this affect Don's business plans? How will Gail react to Don's breakup with her? Will Joyce be strong enough to be a success in the play Don finances for her? Will Joyce "jinx" the play? And why does Joyce always steer Don away from the topic of marriage? Don wants to marry Joyce because he loves her; and Joyce by all accounts seems to love Don in return. Why is Joyce stalling on marriage? The answer to that question alone may surprise you.

The cinematography reflects good judgment and the choreography works well for the scene in which Don and Joyce go running in the rain back to Don's country estate.

Overall, Dangerous gave Bette Davis a fine vehicle to display her immense talent. Davis acts uncommonly well as she communicates even the most subtle of emotions with just a look from her eyes and a very slight turn of her head. Very few actresses could ever act that well. Franchot Tone portrays Don very convincingly as well; but the movie still belongs to Bette Davis.

I highly recommend this film for Bette Davis fans; and people who appreciate 1930s drama on film will like Dangerous, too.

Enjoy!