513:, praised the actors but wrote, "But it isn't all right with this picture. Although it is rather well staged, with credible location settings in Balboa and Los Angeles, it is a feeble and listless drama with a shamelessly callous attitude. The heroine gets away with folly, but we don't think this picture will."
358:
When Lucia finds him, he tells her to not assist him, it will be better if the authorities find him this way. He gives her the letters. At home, as Lucia is trying to compose herself, her two children return from an evening out. Her son talks about "seeing a terrible accident". Bea tells Lucia how
330:
Lucia forbids her daughter to see Darby again but, that evening, Bea sneaks out to the family's boathouse to meet him. She assures him she does not accept her mother's version of things, but he indicates he could do with some money and that it does not mean the two could not continue to be together.
323:
and drives to Los
Angeles to confront Darby, a low-life L.A. criminal, and demands he stop seeing her 17-year-old daughter, Bea. He agrees, but with the caveat that Lucia pay him. She responds by telling him he has simplified the situation, that when she tells Bea "how deeply you feel about her" the
346:
After desperately pawning much of her jewelry, Lucia has only $ 800. When she meets
Donnelly to hand this over, he announces that she is in the clear, a man has been arrested in relation to Darby's murder. Lucia is stricken with guilt because she knows Darby was not actually murdered; she tries to
338:
Another L.A. criminal, handsome and smooth-talking
Donnelly, the partner of Nagel, a brutal loan shark, shows up in possession of letters Bea had written Darby. Nagel had loaned the now-deceased man money and has been holding the writings as collateral. Lucia must now come up with $ 5,000 to keep
334:
Having discovered Bea missing, Lucia searches for her. When she comes upon the distraught girl, who has just come indoors after her ordeal and reveals it to her mother, Lucia goes to the boathouse; there is nothing amiss and she does not see Darby. The next morning, however, she finds him lying
453:
was filmed in both Balboa, Newport Beach and Los
Angeles, California. It was first released in Detroit, Michigan, on October 29, 1949. While the movie was Ophüls' last to be shot in the United States, it was also the last movie adaptation of any of Elisabeth Sanxay Holding’s books while she was
354:
Afterwards, Donnelly talks about his warm feelings for Lucia; she says she will call the police and straighten everything out, she cannot allow him to spend the rest of his life wanted for murder. He asks her for a drink and, while she is gone, Donnelly drives away with Nagel in the car. Lucia
350:
Later, Donnelly learns that the suspect has been released. When Lucia gets home, her housekeeper says Nagel is waiting in the boathouse. He lets her know the suspect has been "sprung" and that she must pay the full $ 5,000 immediately. Donnelly arrives and attacks his partner; during the fight,
481:
film style. Throughout the movie, major plot points often occur while the characters are simply doing day to day things. The characters are often put under duress while talking on the telephone or driving a car. This creates a contrast between the tension of the dialogue and the ease of the
342:
As Lucia struggles to secure these funds, Donnelly is falling in love with her. He tries to allow her more time, he tells her he has declined his 'cut' and that if she can get half the money, he may be able to mollify Nagel. If he could, he says, he would pay the blackmailer off himself.
29:
579:
347:
convince
Donnelly that she is the killer. He will not accept her story and says that while the man in custody may be innocent of this he is "guilty of a hundred other things" and it does not matter, she needs to think of her family.
355:
follows in her vehicle. While driving, Donnelly reaches into Nagel's pocket to retrieve Bea's letters; he loses control, smashes through a fence and into a tree, overturning the car and trapping himself under it.
327:
When Lucia returns home she is confronted by Bea - Darby had telephoned to tell her of her mother's visit. She refuses to believe Darby would mention money in the manner her mother suggests happened.
331:
Bea is repulsed by this and, during an ensuing struggle, she hits him and he goes down to his knees. Unknown to her, he shakily tries to follow her but accidentally falls and subsequently dies.
645:
1686:
1701:
1227:
588:, film review, "'Reckless Moment' New Feature at the Palace -- British and Two French Films Also Arrive", December 30, 1949. Accessed: July 10, 2013.
1671:
1666:
905:
1676:
1641:
1021:
522:
732:
1646:
1267:
1636:
621:
1691:
1259:
616:. Schneider, Steven Jay, 1974-, Smith, Ian Haydn (Updated ed.). Hauppage, New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 237.
1661:
1656:
1091:
516:
In recent years, however, the film has received very positive appraisal and is now generally considered one of the best films by
1631:
1681:
1579:
1459:
1251:
765:
335:
dead by a jetty. She uses a motorboat and disposes of the body in a swamp; it is found, and a murder investigation begins.
1696:
1443:
1139:
1107:
875:
1571:
1347:
1099:
965:
320:
598:
1014:
885:
725:
1403:
1395:
1203:
443:
1435:
1371:
1219:
795:
380:
302:
89:
755:
1483:
359:
the police mentioned that, just before dying, the man pinned beneath the vehicle admitted to killing Darby.
1507:
1491:
1339:
1331:
1323:
1187:
1131:
1007:
845:
718:
1603:
1587:
1563:
1555:
1531:
1387:
895:
855:
805:
694:
467:
1195:
1523:
1355:
1299:
1179:
1171:
1163:
1067:
1059:
945:
935:
865:
815:
538:
460:
1626:
1379:
1315:
520:. It has been highly regarded by film critics, historians and audience, and entered in the list of
407:
307:
82:
1651:
1539:
1363:
1291:
1283:
1243:
915:
825:
584:
505:
433:
392:
1419:
1155:
672:
627:
617:
438:
413:
278:
184:
1123:
1075:
1043:
835:
386:
1595:
1467:
1115:
985:
705:
510:
286:
160:
1547:
1451:
1427:
1307:
1235:
1147:
1083:
975:
775:
282:
150:
130:
67:
1620:
1051:
1031:
742:
542:
517:
274:
270:
99:
42:
1515:
699:
419:
374:
294:
140:
117:
28:
999:
401:
368:
290:
112:
61:
710:
1211:
955:
688:
631:
1475:
431:
This was Mason's third U.S. film, after having appeared in director Ophüls'
266:
263:
1411:
1275:
785:
683:
677:
666:
319:
While her husband is away on business, Lucia Harper leaves her home in
1003:
714:
503:
When the film was first released in 1949, the film critic for
351:
Donnelly is wounded but manages to strangle Nagel to death.
477:
A characteristic of Ophüls' films is his use of the
247:
239:
231:
223:
213:
190:
180:
166:
156:
146:
136:
126:
105:
95:
77:
48:
38:
21:
454:alive. Other films based on her stories include
311:is a remake based on the same source material.
1015:
726:
8:
1022:
1008:
1000:
733:
719:
711:
27:
18:
324:girl will be glad to break off with him.
562:
560:
558:
339:Bea's relationship from becoming known.
614:1001 movies you must see before you die
554:
523:1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1687:Films set in Orange County, California
7:
568:Walter Wagner: Hollywood Independent
495:The film made a loss of $ 565,775.
416:as a police lieutenant (uncredited)
1702:English-language crime drama films
14:
437:(released February 1949) then in
422:as a loan processor (uncredited)
1672:Films produced by Walter Wanger
1677:Films scored by Hans J. Salter
1642:American black-and-white films
1580:Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1460:Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman
1228:The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
599:"Max Ophuls's five best films"
1:
1108:The Bitter Tea of General Yen
1667:Films directed by Max Ophüls
1647:1940s English-language films
1572:The Adventures of Hajji Baba
1100:Gabriel Over the White House
966:The Earrings of Madame de...
906:Letter from an Unknown Woman
570:, Minnesota Press, 2000 p445
301:(1947), a novel written by
199:December 29, 1949
1718:
1637:American crime drama films
1204:The Case Against Mrs. Ames
612:Schneider, Steven (2017).
398:David Bair as David Harper
1092:Washington Merry-Go-Round
1038:
749:
175:Walter Wanger Productions
33:Theatrical release poster
26:
1692:Films set in Los Angeles
1436:Salome, Where She Danced
1372:The House Across the Bay
1268:History Is Made At Night
447:(released August 1949).
303:Elisabeth Sanxay Holding
90:Elisabeth Sanxay Holding
1662:Columbia Pictures films
1657:Films set in California
1404:We've Never Been Licked
482:character’s movements.
297:. The film is based on
16:1949 film by Max Ophüls
1632:1949 crime drama films
1492:Secret Beyond the Door
1140:The President Vanishes
846:The Trouble With Money
541:, in conjunction with
86:story "The Blank Wall"
1682:1940s melodrama films
1564:Riot in Cell Block 11
1532:Lady in the Iron Mask
1348:Foreign Correspondent
806:A Man Has Been Stolen
756:The Company's in Love
537:was preserved by the
468:The Price of Pleasure
410:as Sybil (uncredited)
1697:1940s American films
1524:Aladdin and His Lamp
1356:The Long Voyage Home
1180:Mary Burns, Fugitive
1164:Every Night at Eight
866:The Novel of Werther
650:Academy Film Archive
646:"Preserved Projects"
539:Academy Film Archive
461:The Bride Comes Home
1500:The Reckless Moment
1316:I Met My Love Again
1188:The Moon's Our Home
926:The Reckless Moment
876:There's No Tomorrow
701:The Reckless Moment
690:The Reckless Moment
679:The Reckless Moment
668:The Reckless Moment
566:Matthew Bernstein,
535:The Reckless Moment
451:The Reckless Moment
408:Frances E. Williams
262:is a 1949 American
259:The Reckless Moment
83:Ladies Home Journal
22:The Reckless Moment
1364:Slightly Honorable
1252:You Only Live Once
1196:Her Master's Voice
1030:Films produced by
766:The Bartered Bride
741:Films directed by
695:TCM Movie Database
585:The New York Times
506:The New York Times
393:Shepperd Strudwick
371:as Martin Donnelly
277:, and released by
1614:
1613:
1444:Night in Paradise
1420:Ladies Courageous
997:
996:
816:Everybody's Woman
499:Critical response
439:Vincente Minnelli
414:William Schallert
279:Columbia Pictures
255:
254:
185:Columbia Pictures
1709:
1124:Another Language
1076:Roadhouse Nights
1024:
1017:
1010:
1001:
990:
980:
970:
960:
950:
940:
930:
920:
910:
900:
890:
880:
870:
860:
850:
840:
836:The Tender Enemy
830:
820:
810:
800:
790:
780:
770:
760:
735:
728:
721:
712:
654:
653:
642:
636:
635:
609:
603:
602:
595:
589:
580:Crowther, Bosley
577:
571:
564:
381:Geraldine Brooks
305:. The 2001 film
206:
204:
58:Robert Soderberg
31:
19:
1717:
1716:
1712:
1711:
1710:
1708:
1707:
1706:
1617:
1616:
1615:
1610:
1596:I Want to Live!
1508:Reign of Terror
1468:The Lost Moment
1340:Eternally Yours
1332:Winter Carnival
1132:Queen Christina
1116:Going Hollywood
1034:
1028:
998:
993:
986:Montparnasse 19
983:
973:
963:
953:
943:
933:
923:
913:
903:
893:
883:
873:
863:
853:
843:
833:
823:
813:
803:
793:
783:
773:
763:
753:
745:
739:
706:Rotten Tomatoes
663:
658:
657:
644:
643:
639:
624:
611:
610:
606:
597:
596:
592:
578:
574:
565:
556:
551:
532:
511:Bosley Crowther
501:
493:
488:
429:
377:as Lucia Harper
365:
317:
287:cinematographer
216:
209:
202:
200:
193:
176:
171:
169:
161:Black and white
122:
87:
73:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1715:
1713:
1705:
1704:
1699:
1694:
1689:
1684:
1679:
1674:
1669:
1664:
1659:
1654:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1619:
1618:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1608:
1600:
1592:
1584:
1576:
1568:
1560:
1556:Kansas Pacific
1552:
1548:Fort Vengeance
1544:
1536:
1528:
1520:
1512:
1504:
1496:
1488:
1480:
1472:
1464:
1456:
1452:Canyon Passage
1448:
1440:
1432:
1428:Scarlet Street
1424:
1416:
1408:
1400:
1396:Arabian Nights
1392:
1388:Eagle Squadron
1384:
1376:
1368:
1360:
1352:
1344:
1336:
1328:
1320:
1312:
1304:
1296:
1288:
1280:
1272:
1264:
1260:Vogues of 1938
1256:
1248:
1240:
1236:Big Brown Eyes
1232:
1224:
1216:
1208:
1200:
1192:
1184:
1176:
1168:
1160:
1152:
1148:Private Worlds
1144:
1136:
1128:
1120:
1112:
1104:
1096:
1088:
1084:Tarnished Lady
1080:
1072:
1064:
1056:
1048:
1039:
1036:
1035:
1029:
1027:
1026:
1019:
1012:
1004:
995:
994:
992:
991:
981:
971:
961:
951:
941:
931:
921:
911:
901:
891:
881:
871:
861:
851:
841:
831:
821:
811:
801:
791:
781:
776:Laughing Heirs
771:
761:
750:
747:
746:
740:
738:
737:
730:
723:
715:
709:
708:
697:
686:
675:
662:
661:External links
659:
656:
655:
637:
623:978-1438050065
622:
604:
601:. 31 May 2015.
590:
572:
553:
552:
550:
547:
531:
528:
500:
497:
492:
489:
487:
484:
428:
425:
424:
423:
417:
411:
405:
399:
396:
390:
384:
378:
372:
364:
361:
316:
313:
299:The Blank Wall
283:Burnett Guffey
273:, produced by
253:
252:
249:
245:
244:
241:
237:
236:
233:
229:
228:
225:
221:
220:
217:
214:
211:
210:
208:
207:
196:
194:
191:
188:
187:
182:
181:Distributed by
178:
177:
174:
172:
167:
164:
163:
158:
154:
153:
151:Hans J. Salter
148:
144:
143:
138:
134:
133:
131:Burnett Guffey
128:
127:Cinematography
124:
123:
121:
120:
115:
109:
107:
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
79:
75:
74:
72:
71:
68:Robert E. Kent
65:
59:
56:
52:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1714:
1703:
1700:
1698:
1695:
1693:
1690:
1688:
1685:
1683:
1680:
1678:
1675:
1673:
1670:
1668:
1665:
1663:
1660:
1658:
1655:
1653:
1650:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1624:
1622:
1606:
1605:
1601:
1598:
1597:
1593:
1590:
1589:
1585:
1582:
1581:
1577:
1574:
1573:
1569:
1566:
1565:
1561:
1558:
1557:
1553:
1550:
1549:
1545:
1542:
1541:
1537:
1534:
1533:
1529:
1526:
1525:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1513:
1510:
1509:
1505:
1502:
1501:
1497:
1494:
1493:
1489:
1486:
1485:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1473:
1470:
1469:
1465:
1462:
1461:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1449:
1446:
1445:
1441:
1438:
1437:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1425:
1422:
1421:
1417:
1414:
1413:
1409:
1406:
1405:
1401:
1398:
1397:
1393:
1390:
1389:
1385:
1382:
1381:
1377:
1374:
1373:
1369:
1366:
1365:
1361:
1358:
1357:
1353:
1350:
1349:
1345:
1342:
1341:
1337:
1334:
1333:
1329:
1326:
1325:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1313:
1310:
1309:
1305:
1302:
1301:
1297:
1294:
1293:
1289:
1286:
1285:
1281:
1278:
1277:
1273:
1270:
1269:
1265:
1262:
1261:
1257:
1254:
1253:
1249:
1246:
1245:
1241:
1238:
1237:
1233:
1230:
1229:
1225:
1222:
1221:
1217:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1206:
1205:
1201:
1198:
1197:
1193:
1190:
1189:
1185:
1182:
1181:
1177:
1174:
1173:
1169:
1166:
1165:
1161:
1158:
1157:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1145:
1142:
1141:
1137:
1134:
1133:
1129:
1126:
1125:
1121:
1118:
1117:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1105:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1094:
1093:
1089:
1086:
1085:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1070:
1069:
1065:
1062:
1061:
1060:The Lady Lies
1057:
1054:
1053:
1052:The Cocoanuts
1049:
1046:
1045:
1041:
1040:
1037:
1033:
1032:Walter Wanger
1025:
1020:
1018:
1013:
1011:
1006:
1005:
1002:
988:
987:
982:
978:
977:
972:
968:
967:
962:
958:
957:
952:
948:
947:
942:
939:(1950, fired)
938:
937:
932:
928:
927:
922:
918:
917:
912:
908:
907:
902:
898:
897:
892:
888:
887:
882:
878:
877:
872:
868:
867:
862:
858:
857:
852:
848:
847:
842:
838:
837:
832:
828:
827:
822:
818:
817:
812:
808:
807:
802:
798:
797:
792:
788:
787:
782:
778:
777:
772:
768:
767:
762:
758:
757:
752:
751:
748:
744:
736:
731:
729:
724:
722:
717:
716:
713:
707:
703:
702:
698:
696:
692:
691:
687:
685:
681:
680:
676:
674:
670:
669:
665:
664:
660:
651:
647:
641:
638:
633:
629:
625:
619:
615:
608:
605:
600:
594:
591:
587:
586:
581:
576:
573:
569:
563:
561:
559:
555:
548:
546:
544:
543:Sony Pictures
540:
536:
529:
527:
525:
524:
519:
514:
512:
508:
507:
498:
496:
490:
485:
483:
480:
475:
474:
470:
469:
464:
462:
457:
452:
448:
446:
445:
444:Madame Bovary
440:
436:
435:
426:
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
397:
394:
391:
389:as Tom Harper
388:
387:Henry O'Neill
385:
383:as Bea Harper
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
366:
362:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
325:
322:
321:Balboa Island
314:
312:
310:
309:
304:
300:
296:
292:
289:. It starred
288:
284:
280:
276:
275:Walter Wanger
272:
268:
265:
261:
260:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
227:United States
226:
222:
218:
212:
198:
197:
195:
189:
186:
183:
179:
173:
165:
162:
159:
157:Color process
155:
152:
149:
145:
142:
139:
135:
132:
129:
125:
119:
116:
114:
111:
110:
108:
104:
101:
100:Walter Wanger
98:
94:
91:
85:
84:
80:
76:
69:
66:
63:
60:
57:
54:
53:
51:
49:Screenplay by
47:
44:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1602:
1594:
1586:
1578:
1570:
1562:
1554:
1546:
1538:
1530:
1522:
1514:
1506:
1499:
1498:
1490:
1482:
1474:
1466:
1458:
1450:
1442:
1434:
1426:
1418:
1410:
1402:
1394:
1386:
1378:
1370:
1362:
1354:
1346:
1338:
1330:
1322:
1314:
1306:
1298:
1290:
1282:
1274:
1266:
1258:
1250:
1242:
1234:
1226:
1220:Palm Springs
1218:
1210:
1202:
1194:
1186:
1178:
1170:
1162:
1154:
1146:
1138:
1130:
1122:
1114:
1106:
1098:
1090:
1082:
1074:
1066:
1058:
1050:
1042:
984:
974:
964:
954:
944:
934:
925:
924:
914:
904:
894:
884:
874:
864:
854:
844:
834:
824:
814:
804:
796:A Love Story
794:
784:
774:
764:
754:
700:
689:
678:
667:
649:
640:
613:
607:
593:
583:
575:
567:
534:
533:
530:Preservation
521:
515:
504:
502:
494:
478:
476:
472:
466:
459:
455:
450:
449:
442:
432:
430:
420:Kathryn Card
395:as Ted Darby
375:Joan Bennett
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
326:
318:
308:The Deep End
306:
298:
295:Joan Bennett
269:directed by
258:
257:
256:
215:Running time
192:Release date
141:Gene Havlick
118:Joan Bennett
81:
70:(adaptation)
64:(adaptation)
55:Henry Garson
1540:Battle Zone
1484:Joan of Arc
1292:Trade Winds
1284:52nd Street
1244:Spendthrift
976:Lola Montès
545:, in 1999.
402:Roy Roberts
369:James Mason
291:James Mason
113:James Mason
96:Produced by
62:Mel Dinelli
39:Directed by
1627:1949 films
1621:Categories
1324:Stagecoach
1212:Fatal Lady
1156:Smart Girl
956:Le Plaisir
743:Max Ophüls
549:References
518:Max Ophüls
491:Box-office
456:Vocalizing
427:Background
271:Max Ophüls
248:Box office
219:82 minutes
203:1949-12-29
168:Production
43:Max Ophüls
1652:Film noir
1604:Cleopatra
1588:Navy Wife
1476:Tap Roots
1044:The Sheik
896:The Exile
856:Yoshiwara
632:972773850
486:Reception
267:melodrama
264:film noir
251:$ 717,188
243:$ 882,653
137:Edited by
1412:Gung Ho!
1300:Blockade
1276:Stand-In
1172:Shanghai
1068:Applause
946:La Ronde
936:Vendetta
886:Sarajevo
786:Liebelei
684:AllMovie
458:(1936),
404:as Nagel
232:Language
147:Music by
106:Starring
78:Based on
1380:Sundown
1308:Algiers
693:at the
479:baroque
235:English
224:Country
201: (
170:company
1607:(1963)
1599:(1958)
1591:(1956)
1583:(1956)
1575:(1954)
1567:(1954)
1559:(1953)
1551:(1953)
1543:(1952)
1535:(1952)
1527:(1952)
1519:(1949)
1511:(1949)
1503:(1949)
1495:(1948)
1487:(1948)
1479:(1948)
1471:(1947)
1463:(1947)
1455:(1946)
1447:(1946)
1439:(1945)
1431:(1945)
1423:(1944)
1415:(1943)
1407:(1943)
1399:(1942)
1391:(1942)
1383:(1941)
1375:(1940)
1367:(1940)
1359:(1940)
1351:(1940)
1343:(1939)
1335:(1939)
1327:(1939)
1319:(1938)
1311:(1938)
1303:(1938)
1295:(1938)
1287:(1937)
1279:(1937)
1271:(1937)
1263:(1937)
1255:(1937)
1247:(1936)
1239:(1936)
1231:(1936)
1223:(1936)
1215:(1936)
1207:(1936)
1199:(1936)
1191:(1936)
1183:(1935)
1175:(1935)
1167:(1935)
1159:(1935)
1151:(1935)
1143:(1934)
1135:(1933)
1127:(1933)
1119:(1933)
1111:(1933)
1103:(1933)
1095:(1932)
1087:(1931)
1079:(1930)
1071:(1929)
1063:(1929)
1055:(1929)
1047:(1921)
989:(1958)
979:(1955)
969:(1953)
959:(1952)
949:(1950)
929:(1949)
919:(1949)
916:Caught
909:(1948)
899:(1947)
889:(1940)
879:(1939)
869:(1938)
859:(1937)
849:(1936)
839:(1936)
829:(1935)
826:Divine
819:(1934)
809:(1934)
799:(1933)
789:(1933)
779:(1933)
769:(1932)
759:(1932)
630:
620:
471:(1925)
465:, and
463:(1935)
434:Caught
240:Budget
1516:Tulsa
281:with
673:IMDb
628:OCLC
618:ISBN
363:Cast
315:Plot
293:and
704:at
682:at
671:at
582:.
441:'s
285:as
88:by
1623::
648:.
626:.
557:^
526:.
509:,
1023:e
1016:t
1009:v
734:e
727:t
720:v
652:.
634:.
473:.
205:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
