On Dangerous Ground - A Compelling Noir

 

On Dangerous Ground (1951) is a stark, compelling Noir directed partly by Nicholas Ray (In A Lonely Place, Rebel Without A Cause) and also by Ida Lupino, the female lead of the film (and a fine director) who took over for awhile when Ray was sidelined by a nervous breakdown. It stars Robert Ryan as a tough cop searching for a killer. On the way he finds Ida Lupino, a blind woman, who begins to melt his cold heart, even after the killer turns out to be someone she cares for.

This film has an overall theme of isolation - the city streets, the frigid, snow-laden countryside, the loneliness of all the people in it, which is ultimately the isolation within themselves. But it also has some hope in it, and a bit of redemption too, and that gives it a higher purpose than your average Noir.

Lupino and Ryan have a wonderful, tender chemistry that pervades the film, and keeps you watching. The ending will not disappoint you - it actually gave me goosebumps! But that might have been intensified by Bernard Herrmann's exquisite film score!