Edge of Doom
Edge of Doom is a 1950 black-and-white film noir directed by Mark Robson and starring Dana Andrews, Farley Granger, and Joan Evans.[2]
| Edge of Doom | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mark Robson |
| Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
| Screenplay by | Philip Yordan |
| Based on | the novel by Leo Brady |
| Starring | Dana Andrews Farley Granger Joan Evans |
| Narrated by | Dana Andrews |
| Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
| Cinematography | Harry Stradling |
| Edited by | Daniel Mandell |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date | |
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
The story concerns a young mentally disturbed man, Martin Lynn (Farley Granger), who goes on a rampage after his sick mother dies. One of his main targets is the Catholic Church which, in addition to slighting him when his mother needed a priest, refused to bury his father years earlier because he committed suicide. The man, blaming the environment he lives in, takes revenge on his cheap boss, a mortician and a priest, Father Kirkman (Harold Vermilyea), who refuses to give his poor mother a big funeral. He begins by killing the hard-line Catholic priest who slighted him by beating him with a heavy crucifix. Later, a young priest, Father Roth (Dana Andrews), suspects the young man, who has been arrested for another crime, of the killing.
Cast
- Dana Andrews as Father Thomas Roth
- Farley Granger as Martin Lynn
- Joan Evans as Rita Conroy, Martin's girlfriend
- Robert Keith as Lieutenant Mandel
- Paul Stewart as Craig
- Mala Powers as Julie
- Adele Jergens as Irene, Craig's girlfriend
- John Ridgely as 1st Detective
- Douglas Fowley as 2nd Detective
- Harold Vermilyea as Father Kirkman
- Mabel Paige as Mrs. Pearson
- Ellen Corby as Mrs. Jeanette Moore
- Robert Karnes as George, a Priest narrated to
Reception
Critical response
When the film was released, the staff at Variety magazine gave the film a positive review, writing, "A grim, relentless story, considerably offbeat, gives some distinction to Edge of Doom. It is played to the hilt by a good cast and directed with impact by Mark Robson."[3] The New York Times wrote, "Robson's direction gives flashes of high tension to the film, for he has made effective use of street scenes and noises and has skillfully reflected the oppressive atmosphere of poverty and squalor, but his actors run more to types than to real people."[4]
References
- "Edge of Doom: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- Edge of Doom at the TCM Movie Database.
- Variety, film review, 1950. Accessed: July 13, 2013.
- "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; Goldwyn's 'Edge of Doom,' Based on the Novel by Leo Brady, in Premiere at the Astor". The New York Times. August 4, 1950. Retrieved January 31, 2015.