DANGEROUSLY THEY LIVE

US, 1941, 77 minutes, Black and white.
John Garfield, Raymond Massey, Nancy Coleman, Moroni Olsen, Lee Patrick.
Directed by Robert Florey.

Dangerously They Live is a small B-budget Warner Brothers film, a story of espionage in an American city, a piece of World War Two propaganda. It has a genial performance by John Garfield - a bit unlikely as a doctor. Nancy Coleman is the attractive heroine. Raymond Massey is, as always, an effective villain. The film was directed by Robert Florey who made a range of films at Warner Brothers at this time ranging from God Is My Co-Pilot? to The Beast With Five Fingers.

1. Entertaining B-budget thriller? Espionage? The atmosphere of World War Two? Propaganda?

2. Black and white photography, the city, the house, light and darkness, shadows, moody atmosphere? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on infiltrators and spies? Spies on the Allies' side? The doctor involved in this espionage tangle?

4. The plausibility of the story? The British and their -intelligence? Information about flights and ships? The use of personnel to convey messages? The Fifth Column, the infiltration into the United States, even to high places? The wealthy Mr. Goodwin and his house? A concentration camp? The melodramatic violence and activities? The repercussions for the bombing of the U-boats?

5. Jane and her work, the taxi; accident, her pretending amnesia, the help of Mike Lewis, the fake father, Professor Ingersoll, her trying to persuade Mike to be on her side in the hospital, the decision to go into the danger area, her going to the house, her skill in feigning amnesia, her being exposed, the confrontation with the father, with Professor Ingersoll, her being drugged, giving part of the information, her love for Mike, ensuring his help and getting information, her fearing him dead, the final escape? A romantic ending with the patriotic touch? A credible spy?

6. Mike as the doctor, in the ambulance, ladies, man, genial, interest in amnesia, relationship with Jane, not believing her, being on her side, Mr Goodwin, admiration for Professor Ingersoll? Going with her, trying to find out the truth, his techniques? In the mansion, being virtually a prisoner, not being allowed out, his investigations? Helping Jane? The man with the dislocated arm? The escape, getting the police, Inpersol’s smoothness? His being kidnapped? His getting out of danger, rescuing Jane? The romantic ending?

7. Mr. Goodwin and his wealth, the Nazi contacts, his house, the servants and the gardeners, the concentration camp? His pretences with Jane?

8. Professor Ingersoll and his position, Mike's admiration for him, being the Nazi chief, his suave manner with Jane and Mike, the interrogations, the information, the confrontation with the radio, his defeat?

9. The presentation of the Fifth Column, the types, their pressure on Mr. and Mrs. Steiner (and Steiner's death)? Mrs. Steiner getting the police? The various servants and their strong-arm tactics?

10. The credibility of this kind of espionage story in an American city? Its Impact in the '40s for propaganda motivation? As an entertaining spy story later?