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Background to Danger

Play trailer Poster for Background to Danger 1943 1h 20m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Joe Barton (George Raft) is an American intelligence agent working an undercover mission in Turkey during World War II. Turkey is neutral territory, but the Nazis are developing plans to take control of the country. A strange woman passes Barton papers containing details of a supposed Soviet invasion. Also very interested in the documents are a mysterious Russian operative, Tamara Zaleshoff (Brenda Marshall), and traitorous Nazi agent Colonel Robinson (Sydney Greenstreet).
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Background to Danger

Critics Reviews

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Yasser Medina Cinefilia 03/04/2022
5/10
A fatiguing and dull spy thriller from Raoul Walsh that lacks any trace of intrigue. Full review in Spanish Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television 07/06/2010
Dull but inoffensive spy thriller might offer some light entertainment. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/14/2008
B-
Lightweight espionage tale. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Gary R Jan 22 The best part of this is Greenstreet and Lorre but not their best. Raft is the star but he is not a great actor. It's a spy thriller and the plot revolves around something (what Hichcock called the MacGuffin) the German's want that will bring neutral Turkey into WWII on the side of Germans. The entire movie is about the Germans getting this thing which Raft wound up with apparently by coincidence, or if not, the movie never really explains that. The problem with the plot is the Germans don't need it because they could just invent it and accomplish the same end. Nevertheless, it's worth watching once. See more David K 03/19/2024 I have so many problems with this film. Let's start with the model trains that are obvious. The editing. The clear dependance on cast members of Casablanca, which this film is tries to emulate, shows a real lack of imagination. The plot is silly. And, then, there's George Raft. There's a reason he never achieved the status of Humphrey Bogart and that goes beyond the roles he turned down. He's just not in Bogey's league in acting chops. It shows in this film. He's just never believable. Watch it only as a study of his roles. See more Steve D 01/17/2024 Fairly predictable but entertaining. See more 03/25/2021 Every time I screen a George Raft movie I'm amazed at what an unpolished actor he was. Additionally, I've learned that his influence on the moviemaking process was rarely positive. Background To Danger is a movie that suffers both, from Raft's limited acting skills to his interference in the story. (Raft wanted changes to his character based - not on the betterment of the story - on his whims and image.) The film is worthy of watching for Raoul Walsh's direction. See more 04/09/2017 Follow up, but not as good as Casablanca See more 12/01/2014 International intrigue in hot spot Ankara, Turkey, during World War II is the center of this secret agent escapism--Well-Made, Well-Acted Formula Spy Thriller Is Entertaining... The 39 Steps meets Casablanca!! See more Read all reviews
Background to Danger

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Movie Info

Synopsis Joe Barton (George Raft) is an American intelligence agent working an undercover mission in Turkey during World War II. Turkey is neutral territory, but the Nazis are developing plans to take control of the country. A strange woman passes Barton papers containing details of a supposed Soviet invasion. Also very interested in the documents are a mysterious Russian operative, Tamara Zaleshoff (Brenda Marshall), and traitorous Nazi agent Colonel Robinson (Sydney Greenstreet).
Director
Raoul Walsh
Producer
Jerry Wald
Screenwriter
W. R. Burnett
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 3, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 20m
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