Themes: Kidnapping, Doctors and Patients, Political Unrest
Main Cast: Cary Grant, José Ferrer, Paula Raymond, Signe Hasso, Ramon Novarro
Release Year: 1950
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Cary Grant's utter credibility in the role of a brilliant, world-famous brain surgeon Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson is the single element that keeps Crisis afloat. While vacationing in a politically unstable Latin American country, Ferguson and his wife, Helen (Paula Raymond), find themselves the unwilling house guests of dictator Raoul Farrago (José Ferrer). Suffering from a brain tumor, Farrago insists that Ferguson operate at once. The "crisis" of the title arises when revolutionary leader Gonzales (Gilbert Roland) demands that Farrago be killed on the operating table -- and kidnaps Dr. Ferguson's wife to bind the bargain. Unaware of his wife's plight, Ferguson proceeds with the operation, setting into motion a series of events leading to a grimly ironic denouement. Director Richard Brooks adapted the screenplay of Crisis from a story by George Tabori. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Probably the most "un-Cary Grant-like" movie that Grant ever made, Crisis is a political melodrama done in by a script that doesn't capitalize on its situation and a talented but inexperienced director who doesn't know how to work around this problem. If one can get past the basic setup -- that a Grant's character would be so foolish as to vacation in a war-torn country in the first place, let alone continue to vacation there after it becomes clear that it is much too dangerous -- then the rest of the plot has promise. Unfortunately, the plot is presented in a heavy-handed and obvious manner, precluding any interesting development in either story or character. Richard Brooks directs his actors well, but he doesn't have a steady hand on guiding the film as a whole (although he is aided by Ray June's deft cinematography and an exciting and atmospheric Miklos Rozsa score.) Grant is quite good, even if never totally credible in the role, and José Ferrer does his evil villain routine to very good effect. Even better are the Eva Peron-like Signe Hasso and the understated Ramon Novarro. Despite its cast, Crisis too often plods when it needs to race, but there's enough here to keep the audience's attention. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Gilbert Roland - Gonzales; Leon Ames - Sam Proctor; Antonio Moreno - Dr. Emilio Nierra; Teresa Celli - Rosa; Pedro de Cordoba - Father Del Puento; Orlando Beltran; Audrey Betz - Servant; Robert Cabal - Very Young Man; Rita Conde - Pretty Girl; David Cota; Larry Crane - Student; Joe Dominguez - Rubio; Joaquin Garay; Martin Garralaga - Senor Magano; Eddie Gomez - Doctor's Assistant; Pepe Hern; Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr. - Chauffeur; Maurice Jara - Louis; Soledad Jiminez - Senora Farrago; George Lewis - Desk Clerk; Carlotta Monti; Alex Montoya - Robust Indian; Neyle Morrow; Robert Polo; Mario Siletti - Gen. Vaidini; Carlo Tricoli - Nervous Man in Lobby; Felipe Turich - Man with Valise; Harry Vejar; Vincente Gomez - Cariago; Robert Tafur - Marco Aldana; Roque Ybarra - Man in Car; Juan Duval - Proud Little Man; Al Haskell; Manuel Paris - Julio; Jerry Riggio - Men at Table; Zachary Yaconelli - Soldier; Margaret Martin - Indian Woman; Amapola Del Vando - Farrago's Friend; Bridget Carr - Guest; Kenneth Garcia; Charles Rivero; Trina Varela; Merrill McCormick - Man with Scar
Credit
Preston Ames - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Richard Brooks - Director, Robert J. Kern - Editor, Miklos Rozsa - Composer (Music Score), Jack Dawn - Makeup, Ray June - Cinematographer, Arthur Freed - Producer, Hugh Hunt - Set Designer, Edwin B. Wallis - Set Designer, Arnold A. Gillespie - Special Effects, Warren Newcombe - Special Effects, Douglas Shearer - Sound/Sound Designer, Richard Brooks - Screenwriter, George Tabori - Short Story Author
Crisis is a 1950 drama film about an American couple who become embroiled in a revolution. It was based on the short story "The Doubters" by George Tabori.
Plot
Dr. Eugene Ferguson (Cary Grant), a renowned American brain surgeon, and his wife Helen (Paula Raymond) are vacationing in Latin America when a revolution breaks out. They are taken against their will to the country's dictator, Raoul Farrago (José Ferrer), who urgently needs a life-saving operation. Over the next few days, while Ferguson trains assistants for the operation, he witnesses various acts of brutality by the regime, especially by Colonel Adragon (Ramón Novarro), but his Hippocratic Oath compels him to do his best.
Roland Gonzales (Gilbert Roland), the rebel leader, kidnaps Helen to pressure her husband into making a fatal surgical "mistake", but his message to Ferguson is intercepted by Isabel Farrago (Signe Hasso), the patient's wife, and the operation is a success. Fortunately for the doctor, Helen is released unharmed when Farrago dies soon afterwards and his government is overthrown.
