Highly Dangerous
| Highly Dangerous | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Roy Ward Baker (as Roy Baker) |
| Produced by |
Antony Darnborough executive Earl St. John |
| Written by | Eric Ambler |
| Starring |
Margaret Lockwood Dane Clark Marius Goring Naunton Wayne |
| Music by | Richard Addinsell |
| Cinematography | Reginald H. Wyer |
| Edited by | Alfred Roome |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by |
General Film Distributors (UK) Lippert Pictures (USA) |
|
Release date
|
6 December 1950 (London) |
|
Running time
|
88-90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Highly Dangerous is a 1950 British spy film starring Margaret Lockwood. The screenplay was written by Eric Ambler.
It was released in the US as Time Running Out.
Frances Gray is as a British entomologist trying to stop a biological attack with the help of an American journalist.
Margaret Lockwood had not made a film in 18 months following Madness of the Heart, focusing on stage work. Earl St. John wanted a comeback vehicle and commissioned Eric Ambler to write her a film specifically as a vehicle for Lockwood. Although he had recently specialised in melodramas, Highly Dangerous was a comedy thriller in the vein of Lockwood's earlier hits, The Lady Vanishes and Night Train to Munich. It was directed by Roy Ward Baker, who had served with Ambler during the war.
"One thing about Eric is that he presents you with a script that is beautifully finished in every detail", said Baker.
"I think Margaret Lockwood wanted to play a modern woman", recalled Baker. "It was actually Eric Ambler's first or second book, although the book had a different title and its main character was a man; Eric changed it to a woman to make it more interesting."
The filmmakers wanted a Hollywood leading man to play opposite Lockwood. Wendell Corey was originally sought before the role was given to Dane Clark, who had recently left Warner Bros. Filming started in June 1950 and took place at Pinewood Studios.
Baker later said that "Highly Dangerous wasn't a very successful picture.... It was a good idea although I don't think I did it very well."
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Wikipedia