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On Dangerous Ground

Play trailer Poster for On Dangerous Ground Released Feb 12, 1952 1h 22m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Jim Wilson (Robert Ryan) is New York police detective on the edge. Hardened and embittered by his years of dealing with the lowest forms of criminal the city has to offer, Wilson becomes increasingly violent with suspects. For his own good, Wilson's police captain (Ed Begley) assigns him to a murder investigation in the countryside for a change of scenery. While searching for the killer, Wilson meets the suspect's sister, Mary Malden (Ida Lupino), a blind woman who might turn his life around.
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On Dangerous Ground

Critics Reviews

View All (20) Critics Reviews
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader One of the loveliest of Nick Ray's movies. Oct 23, 2007 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness One of noir's most soulful and poetic expressions of hope and redemption. Rated: A Aug 16, 2006 Full Review Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine Perched between late-'40s noir and mid-'50s crime drama, this is one of the great, forgotten works of the genre. May 1, 2006 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a distressingly erratic endeavor that fares best when focused on Ryan’s standout hero. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 11, 2025 Full Review Manny Farber The Nation By the time it reaches the run-down of an adolescent murderer over half the snow-covered hills of northern California, the customer is as fed up with motion as the panting actors. Sep 15, 2021 Full Review Alex Lei Film Inquiry It's a film that defies not just genre expectation, but even the expectations it sets up for itself, culminating in a devastating ending where the only comfort left is the possibility of some human connection. Sep 24, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Insomniac X An engaging and underrated noir gem with a drive and momentum rarely seen in pictures of that time. The first half of the film is about as hard boiled as it gets, with rain-slicked streets and a menacing theme by Bernard Herrmann. Its depictions of police violence are shockingly frank for the Hays code era, with the brutality of Robert Ryan's disaffected cop presented not as heroic, but a manifestation of bitterness and an empty life. The unusual redemptive arc of the film's second half is sparingly written, but poignantly acted by Ryan and the great Ida Lupino. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/25 Full Review Rick C Beautifully acted film noir with unforgettable score by Bernard Herrmann. Ryan and Lupino have never been better. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/25/24 Full Review acsdoug D The first part of the movie is a gritty rogue cop drama set in the city and I found that part interesting. However, the movie then moves to the countryside and that ruined the vibe. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/31/24 Full Review Ted B 4.0 stars; Robert Ryan plays a cop who goes through a metamorphosis from a 1920s-style detective who beats a confession out of a criminal and worries about the legal aspects later. Ida Lupino plays a blind girl who lives with her murderer brother in the snow-covered mountains of northern California. The metamorphosis occurs at the clash of personalities, when Ryan's character has to track down the murderer brother. What I enjoyed about this movie was how there was a lot of character depth in a standard film noir plot. I also thought the acting was above par. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Claire L The level of violence for a 1951 film is surprising, this film shows the true underbelly of police violence and sleeze. Robert Ryan is a revelation making me search for more of his work. The scenes in the countryside do seem condensed, but you do not really notice it because the city scenes are so worth it. All the classic tropes of a Noir are here, the soundtrack particularly notable. I'd recommend this to any Film Noir fan. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/12/23 Full Review deke p 3 all star cast.. Ida LUPINO as blind. Robert Ryan plays brutal policeman beating up white guys. Then ... Ward Bond. Interesting. Some thrilling scenes near the end, then very touching. Saw ontv 6.2020 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
On Dangerous Ground

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jim Wilson (Robert Ryan) is New York police detective on the edge. Hardened and embittered by his years of dealing with the lowest forms of criminal the city has to offer, Wilson becomes increasingly violent with suspects. For his own good, Wilson's police captain (Ed Begley) assigns him to a murder investigation in the countryside for a change of scenery. While searching for the killer, Wilson meets the suspect's sister, Mary Malden (Ida Lupino), a blind woman who might turn his life around.
Director
Nicholas Ray
Producer
John Houseman
Screenwriter
A. I. Bezzerides, A. I. Bezzerides, Nicholas Ray
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 12, 1952, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Mono
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