Cause for Alarm! (B or 3/4 stars)
'Cause for Alarm!' (directed by Tay Garnett) is a small-scale, but engaging film noir/melodrama set in the suburbs of sunny California. While bed-ridden, mentally unstable businessman George Jones (Barry Sullivan) recuperates from a lingering heart condition, he obsesses with the unfounded idea that his devoted housewife Ellen (Loretta Young) & his private doctor (Bruce Cowling) are having an affair. So what does he do? He writes a letter to his lawyer accusing his wife & said doctor of trying to kill him! And it is only after Ellen mails the letter for him that George tells her of its damning contents.
Rageful to a fault, he pulls a gun on her. But his rage kick starts a heart attack & he dies on the spot. Though innocent, Helen is nevertheless scared, neurotic, & desperate to somehow get that letter back. The postman can't help her. The postmaster won't help her; as it would go against strict postal regulations. Nosy neighbors want to know why she's so flustered. George's old aunt stops by for a visit that Helen must deflect. And the doctor stops by to pay another visit. With her perfect suburban life turned upside down ... how will poor, frantic Helen deal with all of this? She'll need a miracle to prove her innocence.
I was surprised by how nifty this little mystery film was. At only 74 minutes in length, it grabbed me early on & never let me go. I was as tense & nervous as Ellen was as she desperately tried to prevent people from going up to 'visit' George; and I felt her frustration when nobody would help her try to get that incriminating letter back. This is one of those rare movies where the direction, acting, writing, editing, & setting all came together to make a modest, yet entertaining little flick. And really, my only complaint is that it IS small. It looks small, feels small ... but nonetheless effective.
Loretta Young is excellent as the distraught wife. Every facial reaction, quivering word, & moment of exasperation felt very authentic. I really felt for her. One side note on the casting: apparently, Bette Davis was lined-up to play Ellen, but producer/screenwriter Tom Lewis hired his then wife ... Loretta Young. Performances aside, I also enjoyed the quaint, almost too-perfect suburban setting (an idyllic lifestyle that Ellen was longing for, but instead, she gets embroiled in tragedy). The black-&-white cinematography is lovely. The musical score doesn't overcook the already juicy proceedings. I just really enjoyed this fleet, minor motion picture. It may be unspectacular, but Ellen's nervousness had me on edge (in a good way) throughout, and the twist ending is mighty gratifying.
Rageful to a fault, he pulls a gun on her. But his rage kick starts a heart attack & he dies on the spot. Though innocent, Helen is nevertheless scared, neurotic, & desperate to somehow get that letter back. The postman can't help her. The postmaster won't help her; as it would go against strict postal regulations. Nosy neighbors want to know why she's so flustered. George's old aunt stops by for a visit that Helen must deflect. And the doctor stops by to pay another visit. With her perfect suburban life turned upside down ... how will poor, frantic Helen deal with all of this? She'll need a miracle to prove her innocence.
I was surprised by how nifty this little mystery film was. At only 74 minutes in length, it grabbed me early on & never let me go. I was as tense & nervous as Ellen was as she desperately tried to prevent people from going up to 'visit' George; and I felt her frustration when nobody would help her try to get that incriminating letter back. This is one of those rare movies where the direction, acting, writing, editing, & setting all came together to make a modest, yet entertaining little flick. And really, my only complaint is that it IS small. It looks small, feels small ... but nonetheless effective.
Loretta Young is excellent as the distraught wife. Every facial reaction, quivering word, & moment of exasperation felt very authentic. I really felt for her. One side note on the casting: apparently, Bette Davis was lined-up to play Ellen, but producer/screenwriter Tom Lewis hired his then wife ... Loretta Young. Performances aside, I also enjoyed the quaint, almost too-perfect suburban setting (an idyllic lifestyle that Ellen was longing for, but instead, she gets embroiled in tragedy). The black-&-white cinematography is lovely. The musical score doesn't overcook the already juicy proceedings. I just really enjoyed this fleet, minor motion picture. It may be unspectacular, but Ellen's nervousness had me on edge (in a good way) throughout, and the twist ending is mighty gratifying.