The Threat

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The Threat

1949

1h 6m

Crime

Drama

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3 Reviews

50%

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100+ Ratings

Murderer Arnold "Red" Kluger (Charles McGraw) has a score to settle: He promised revenge on the people who put him there when he was convicted. Red searches for and kidnaps the chief detective (Michael O'Shea) and District Attorney MacDonald, dragging both of them to a remote desert location in California. While he is holding the pair hostage, he has a special fate in mind for a beautiful nightclub singer (Virginia Grey) who, he believes, ratted him out.

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Sean Axmaker

Parallax View

... opens with a rat-a-tat energy, quite literally: a prison break, a whining siren, and then the almost unbroken blasts of machine gun fire...

Oct 22, 2011

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John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

'Kluger's out!' -- Those are the first words spoken, and they convey a sense of urgency that is pretty much sustained throughout the economical 66-minute running time of this taut deadline thriller

Rated: 3/4

Sep 16, 2011

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Plenty of tough action.

Rated: B

Apr 28, 2003

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deke p

Interesting. 1949. Suspenseful. And mentioned Firestone at Alameda, etc, and lots of local Calif locations, from Riverside to Banning to Barstow, Victorville, Palm Springs, etc. Newer heard of til saw on broadcast tv TheMovieChannel, 2.6.20

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Has some violent scenes for 1949 . Homicidal criminal Charles McGraw does a good job acting . Not the best film noir . But at a run time of 66 min. It is worth a watch .

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Solid B picture about escaped convict Charles McGraw going all "Cape Fear" on the people he feels are responsible for putting him away. It's a tight little story and McGraw is terrific as the snarling and scary villain. Well worth watching for classic crime/suspense film fans.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

... opens with a rat-a-tat energy, quite literally: a prison break, a whining siren, and then the almost unbroken blasts of machine gun fire...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

A good example of a jail escape and a hostage films. The story is set up nicely, the actors play their parts well (Charles McGraw was especially charismatic) and the ending is satisfying. Though, some of the actors aren't that great - Michae O'Shea didn't leave much of an impression, honestly speaking - and some of the plot twists are a bit stupid and predictable. But, it's enjoyable to watch, so I guess in the end that's all that matters.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Yle Teeman Film-noir-sarjan viimeinen leffa. Tata television ohjelmapaikkaa tulee ikava

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Felix E. Feist

Director

Michael O'Shea

Detective Ray Williams

Virginia Grey

Carol

Charles McGraw

Arnold `'Red'` Kluger

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Synopsis

Murderer Arnold "Red" Kluger (Charles McGraw) has a score to settle: He promised revenge on the people who put him there when he was convicted. Red searches for and kidnaps the chief detective (Michael O'Shea) and District Attorney MacDonald, dragging both of them to a remote desert location in California. While he is holding the pair hostage, he has a special fate in mind for a beautiful nightclub singer (Virginia Grey) who, he believes, ratted him out.

Director: Felix E. Feist
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 6m

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