Themes: Traitorous Spies/Double Agents, Mind Games
Main Cast: George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen
Release Year: 1943
Country: US
Run Time: 80 minutes
Plot
Eric Ambler's intriguing novel Uncommon Danger is brought down to a Republic serial level in Warner Bros.' Background to Danger. George Raft, who always seems miscast, plays an American undercover intelligence agent operating in Turkey. Sultry Osa Massen passes on some valuable secret papers to Raft just before she is killed. Our Hero then finds himself at the mercy of enemy agent Sidney Greenstreet, who knows that the papers contain Nazi plans to invade Turkey. Despite several brutal beatings, Raft and his cohorts Peter Lorre (a good guy for a change) and Brenda Marshall turn the tables on Greenstreet. Background to Danger was the first of many Warner Bros. follow-ups to the studio's megahit Casablanca; it's also the film wherein the prankish Peter Lorre stole George Raft's hat between takes--an affront that rankled the touchy Raft to his dying day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Hugh Reticker, Jr. - Art Director, Milo Anderson - Costume Designer, Raoul Walsh - Director, Jack Killifer - Editor, Frederick Hollander - Composer (Music Score), Leo F. Forbstein - Musical Direction/Supervision, Perc Westmore - Makeup, Tony Gaudio - Cinematographer, Jerry Wald - Producer, Casey Roberts - Set Designer, Warren Lynch - Special Effects, Richard Van Enger - Special Effects, Willard Van Enger - Special Effects, Dolph Thomas - Sound/Sound Designer, W.R. Burnett - Screenwriter, Eric Ambler - Book Author
