A Game of Death

Plot

RKO Radio's A Game of Death was the first official remake of Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game, given a contemporary WW2 twist. Novelist Rainsford (John Loder) and brother-and-sister shipwreck victims Ellen (Audrey Long) and Robert (Russell Wade) are among the innocents stranded on remote island at the mercy of Nazi madman Krieger (Edgar Barrier). Fancying himself a sportsman, Krieger offers his captives an hour's head start before he begins hunting them down like animals. The by-now-familiar plotline is not as compelling as in the original 1932 version of Most Dangerous Game or the 1956 Mexican-based remake (Run for the Sun), thanks to the pedestrian acting of everyone except Edgar Barrier. Still, Robert Wise imbues the story with plenty of tension, especially in the closing reels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Review

So many people are familiar with the story that is the source of A Game of Death -- either through reading it or seeing one of the other cinematic versions -- that any previously-unseen version has its work cut out for it to maintain viewer interest. Game doesn't make the grade, although if one has never seen or read another version of "The Most Dangerous Game," it will probably keep the viewer somewhat interested. Unfortunately, Game doesn't have the script, the cast or the budget it needs to really be a memorable picture. The budget is the least of its problems, although it's definitely cheap and clearly makes use of footage shot for the 1932 version of the story. More problematic is a screenplay that is far too clumsy and a cast that, except for Edgar Barrier as the cruel Germanic villain, is inadequate. Barrier is quite good, but he can't carry the picture by himself. Game also benefits from the direction of Robert Wise which, while uneven and clearly the work of someone new to directing, nevertheless manages to create atmosphere and provide suspense in crucial scenes. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

• John Loder - Rainsford
• Audrey Long - Ellen
• Edgar Barrier - Kreiger
• Russell Wade - Robert
• Jason Robards, Sr. - Captain
• Russell Hicks - Whitney

Noble Johnson - Carib; Robert Clarke - Helmsman; Gene Roth - Pleshke

Credit

Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director, Lucius O. Croxton - Art Director, Robert Wise - Director, J.R. Whittredge - Editor, Paul Sawtell - Composer (Music Score), Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Musical Direction/Supervision, Roy Hunt - Cinematographer, Herman Schlom - Producer, Richard Connell - Screen Story, Norman Houston - Screenwriter

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