Apparently Bette Davis said she was "punch drunk" from overwork when she was given "Dangerous", or as it was originally called "Hard Luck Dame" very loosely based on the life of Jeanne Eagels. She also said she had to work like 10 men to make something of the script but work she did, as her performance is the only reason for seeking this film out. To me Davis showed how she could rise above a trite, soapy script with, an at times very intense performance.
Joyce Heath (Bette Davis), once a Broadway comet, has been declared a theatrical jinx - ever since her leading man was killed on opening night. She is now a down and out, occasionally working on vaudeville to keep herself supplied with liquor. Don Bellows (Franchot Tone) is a young man who owes Joyce Heath his destiny. Seeing her as a youth he decided to become an architect. He sees her at a seedy bar and when she passes out he takes her to his farm to recover. Miss Davis certainly has some memorable scenes but definitely it is a film to watch only for her performance.
"I've seen you before" - "which doesn't make us old friends".
With the calm of the country, she begins to dream of a comeback and to put her life in order - on her terms. She also wants Don to fall in love with her, which he does, but Don has a fiancé, Gail, (sweet Margaret Lindsay) that he seems to have forgotten about. He decides to produce the play "But to Die" to give Joyce another chance. He also wants to marry her, but Joyce is not so sure and before opening night her secret is revealed - she is already married!!! Gordon (John Eldrege) has always loved her and even though she has wrecked his life, he will never divorce her. Driving him to the country, she drives into a tree, intending to kill them both.
I actually thought this was a dreary film, definitely not one that I would watch if I wanted to see Miss Davis at her most electrifying.
Joyce Heath (Bette Davis), once a Broadway comet, has been declared a theatrical jinx - ever since her leading man was killed on opening night. She is now a down and out, occasionally working on vaudeville to keep herself supplied with liquor. Don Bellows (Franchot Tone) is a young man who owes Joyce Heath his destiny. Seeing her as a youth he decided to become an architect. He sees her at a seedy bar and when she passes out he takes her to his farm to recover. Miss Davis certainly has some memorable scenes but definitely it is a film to watch only for her performance.
"I've seen you before" - "which doesn't make us old friends".
With the calm of the country, she begins to dream of a comeback and to put her life in order - on her terms. She also wants Don to fall in love with her, which he does, but Don has a fiancé, Gail, (sweet Margaret Lindsay) that he seems to have forgotten about. He decides to produce the play "But to Die" to give Joyce another chance. He also wants to marry her, but Joyce is not so sure and before opening night her secret is revealed - she is already married!!! Gordon (John Eldrege) has always loved her and even though she has wrecked his life, he will never divorce her. Driving him to the country, she drives into a tree, intending to kill them both.
I actually thought this was a dreary film, definitely not one that I would watch if I wanted to see Miss Davis at her most electrifying.