THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS (1952)

Joan Crawford considered THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS (1952) to be the WORST picture she made. Apparently, Crawford either forgot or didn't see TROG (1970). When Studio Head Jack Warner offered THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS to Joan Crawford, he hoped that she would refuse for he could put her on suspension. But to his surprise, the EXBORITANT  star accepted the role of the GANGSTER MOLL who sees the light, even though she goes blind. Following the film, Crawford NEGOTIATED to be RELEASED from her CONTRACT with Warner Brothers. Crawford's next film venture was a very successful independently produced film noir called SUDDEN FEAR (1952), which earned Crawford an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

TOUGH as nails BROADS, was Joan Crawford's specialty, so playing the role of GANGSTER MOLL Beth Austin was another day in the park. Even though HARD BITTEN DAMES were Crawford's forte, THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS script lack the PUNCH of her other crime films like FLAMINGO ROAD (1949) and THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950). Crawford still managed to shine through the weaker script and less than favorable reviews of the film.

PLOT SYNOPSIS (Spoilers Alert !!!) :
After receiving an eye exam,  GANGSTER MOLL Beth Austin ( Joan Crawford) is given the bleak news that she would LOSE her SIGHT within the week. Mrs. Austin is given the referral to The Halleck Clinic in Indiana with Specialist Ben Halleck ( Dennis Morgan) who may be able to perform an OPERATION to save her sight. When Beth returns back to her organization, she greeted by her good friend Ann Jackson (Mari Aldon) and her brother in law Matt Jackson ( David Brian). Matt was the BRAINS of the INFAMOUS Jackson Brothers organization until he met Beth. Now, Beth has been the BRAINS of the organization. 

The big problem with Matt, he's the jealous type and needs to know the whereabouts of his MAIN SQUEEZE at all times. Beth immediately tells Matt, that she has gone to see a doctor about her chronic headaches she been having. Beth conveniently leaves out the information if she doesn't have surgery she would go BLIND.

Beth INFORMS Matt that the CASINO HEIST has been bumped to tonight because The Club Bayou is expecting a big crowd. There would be TWICE as much MONEY than the day they planned on. Beth makes Matt promise that there won't be any ROUGH STUFF. Beth notifies Matt that midnight will be the time of the robbery. Beth waits patiently at the roulette table for the time to make her move. Just a few minutes before midnight, Beth makes a request for ten thousand in bills in which she was ESCORTED to the back room. When the VAULT was open, the casino room was RAIDED by a group of men dressed in police uniforms,  armed with guns. Matt and his brother Will ( Phil Carey) join Beth in the backroom to empty out the vault. Beth is let go along with the other patrons of the casino.

Matt gets a little JUMPY when the casino's manager who tries to use the phone. Matt grabs him and escorts him out of the backroom at GUNPOINT. The Casino Manager starts toTHREATEN Matt, that once he gets to a phone, he will have his job. Suddenly the casino manager finds himself on the floor,  with Matt LOOMING over ready to STRIKE him with a gun. Suddenly Beth appears in the doorway, reporting a missing bracelet stopping the incident to escalate.

Beth informs Matt, that she will be gone awhile to have eye surgery at a clinic in Indiana. In the meantime, she wants the organization to LAY LOW, because they're HOT. Matt becomes SKEPTICAL about her sudden departure, thinking that she is LEAVING HIM for ANOTHER MAN. Beth reassures him that there no one else.

When Beth arrives at The Hallack Clinic, she is unaware that a police detective had followed her there. Now, Beth is under investigation as a PERSON OF INTEREST to see if she tied with a ROBBERY at Club Bayou. Upon meeting the handsome Dr. Halleck ( Dennis Morgan), she is given the news that there only a SLIM CHANCE that the operation would be successful.  Beth wants to take those ODDS, persuading the GOOD DOCTOR to take the GAMBLE. Dr. Halleck INFORMS Beth that if he FAILS, there is no way back for her, she would be PERMANENTLY BLIND.

While being PREPPED for SURGERY, Beth's DNA was SWIPED without her knowledge, when she was asked to take a SIP from a glass of water. After the policemen headed back to the headquarters with Beth's DNA sample, Beth was wheeled into surgery.

Matt decides to call the clinic to check on his LADY LOVE. But is given the BRUSH OFF, when he overhears Dr. Halleck giving instructions no calls until further notice. Matt 's suspicions become aroused after HEARING the VOICE of ANOTHER MAN and then being disconnected.  Matt continues to ELUDE the police with his brother Will riding in a camper trailer towed by Will's wife Ann. Matt begins to DROWN his SORROWS in a bottle, with illusions of Beth stepping out on him.

 Then Will starts giving his TWO CENTS about Beth, who he dislikes, which PROVOKES his brother to DISCARD the bottle of BOOZE out the trailer window. Matt's careless act ALERTS a motorcycle cop, who pulls over Ann over. Instead of questioning Ann who was driving, the cop immediately goes to the trailer, where he is MURDERED by Matt. This MOTLEY CREW makes an AMATEUR BLUNDER by disposing of the motorcycle without the officer's body. Instead, the BODY is loaded in the ABANDONED TRAILER, which is traced back to Matt through the registration. This only proves that this INEPT gang can't get along without the  BRAINS of their LADY BOSS.

Beth receives a ROSE from her HANDSOME DOCTOR, who has high hopes for the success of the operation. Unfortunately for Beth, the authorities have gathered some EVIDENCE of her SHADY PAST due to her DNA sample. It appears that this LADY CRIMINAL has been CONVICTED of EMBEZZLING a few years back under another name. Her FINGERPRINTS were found in the abandoned trailer. The authorities plan to keep CLOSE TABS on her, hoping that she will LEAD them to the NOTORIOUS Jackson Brothers.

 Matt tries to CONTACT Beth once again at the clinic. This time an operator ALERTED the police before putting the call through. Beth hears a peculiar click while conversing with Matt.  Beth tells Matt that she been listening to the radio, that he had broken his promise. Before she could reprimand her gangster boyfriend, Dr. Halleck entered the room.

Beth quickly concluded her phone call, to have her BANDAGES removed. Then the BANDAGES were removed from Beth's eyes, revealing her perfect EYE MAKE-UP was still intact. Beth sees the light proving that Dr. Halleck 's operation was successful. Beth is eternally grateful to him. Dr. Halleck gives Beth a pair of pinpoint GOGGLES to protect her eyes during the adjustment period.  Beth asks how soon can she leave. Dr. Halleck was uncertain because she not completely out of the woods yet. Beth becomes frightened, not knowing what Matt will do if she doesn't return soon.

Due to Beth's absence, Matt starts to FALL APART not able to COPE without her. Will advises his brother that he is better off without her. But that is not what Matt wants to hear. Matt makes ARRANGEMENTS with a SHADY PRIVATE DETECTIVE to find out if Beth with another guy. Meanwhile, Beth is with another guy, her HANDSOME DOCTOR having farewell champagne toast celebrating her departure from the clinic. But Dr. Halleck insists that she stays in town, for at least a couple more weeks. He recommends a resort hotel on the outskirts of town, which has a fine restaurant perfect for their first date.

When Dr. Halleck is detained at the hospital., Beth is INTRODUCED to Joe, the Private Detective (Ian MacDonald) who exposes that he hired by Matt. He advises Beth to get in touch with his client as soon she can. Joe also informs her that the FBI is on her trail. Beth informs the shady PRIVATE DICK that she may have a way to avoid all trouble. Before Beth leaves the restaurant, Joe gives some free advice to be careful because his client sounds likes the jealous type.

Beth makes a surprise visit to the clinic without an appointment, strictly to visit the GOOD DOCTOR. Beth may have motives of her own, knowing that he is going Indianapolis and she just happens to have an airplane ticket from Indianapolis Airways leaving at 4:00. Dr. Halleck seems pleased that Beth wants to take a ride to Indianapolis with him, giving the excuse to some shopping.

 But unfortunately, he has to make to detour to a Women's Prison first. Arriving at the Women's Prison, Dr. Halleck informs Beth that the female inmates have an opportunity to earn an honest trade such as secretary, practical nurse, a duty nurse, anything that suits you. Beth responds to the GOOD DOCTOR  in saying "yes, just name it ..they put you in the laundry and STEAM YOU AS SOFT AS POTATO."

After leaving the prison, the GOOD DOCTOR brings Beth to his place. To Beth's SURPRISE, she MEETS Dr. Halleck's little girl Susan, who is all in a PANIC about cooking dinner. Of course, Beth offers her services, but it turns out that she can't make PRINCESS DRESSING. Beth and Susan BOND overcooking. Later  Dr. Halleck seems to be MOVING FAST, telling Beth that she belongs there. Beth 's response is that he must have her confused with someone who did. Beth finds out that Dr. Halleck's wife left him for another man, leaving behind Susan. When Dr. Halleck CONFESSES his FEELINGS towards Beth, she demands that she be taken back to the hotel. Beth is afraid that she has fallen for the GOOD DOCTOR as well. There is no REDEMPTION of a NEW LIFE for her, Beth knows she needs to back to her OLD LIFE with Matt. Because if she doesn't Matt would surely KILL Dr. Haleck.

The next day, Dr. Halleck gets BRIEFED by the police about Beth's connection with the notorious Jackson Brothers. Dr. Halleck AGREES to do whatever he can to help them. When Dr. Halleck goes to his car, he is surprised to see Beth sitting in it. Beth senses that there something wrong, but Dr. Halleck EVADES the question.

Meanwhile, Matt is going OUT OF HIS MIND over Beth. And he is not in the mood to hear NO,  but he does when asking Will for the key to the guns. Will REFUSES, which causes Matt to becomes CONFRONTATIONAL. Things escalate quite quickly with Matt pushing down Ann and almost STRANGLING Will to death. Matt  SURRENDERS, after Ann, aims a GUN at him. Will SUBMITS to his brother's request to let Matt take the guns to look for Beth.

After a silent ride, Dr. Halleck arrives at his patient's home. Beth waits in the car until Dr. Halleck accesses the situation, It turns out that a young boy has a frontal fracture and is in need of operation right away. Dr, Halleck is going to PERFORM to the OPERATION there, but he is in need of 2 jars of PLASMA. Beth is sent to town to Weber's Drug Store to get them. But it turns that it is only a TEST because the GOOD DOCTOR has more than enough blood PLASMA for the OPERATION. Once in town, Beth makes a beeline to the bus terminal to take the next bus out. After purchasing her ticket, Beth makes her way back to the Weber's Drugstore, making sure that the blood plasma would be delivered.

Apparently, The pharmacist is having a hard to locate someone to deliver it but reassures her that he will find someone. But when her bus arrives, Beth decides to make the PLASMA delivery herself, missing the bus out of town. Beth was quite surprised to find that Dr. Halleck had already performed the surgery and had more than enough blood plasma.

When leaving Beth to ask to drive, for that the GOOD DOCTOR could take a nap. Dr. Halleck was awakened from his nap, hearing the closing of a car door. When he looked up could see Beth heading to the bus terminal. Dr. Halleck quickly caught up with Beth telling her that he knows all about he knows about her INVOLVEMENT with the Jackson Brothers. He BEGS her to stay and they could work through this. Beth tells Dr. Halleck that she going back to Matt and that she loves ( which is a lie). Beth breaks away and climbs aboard the bus. Beth starts crying for the MAN that GOT AWAY.

When Beth arrives back at the organization, she finds out that Matt went looking for her. Fearing for the good doctor's life, Beth heads back to Indiana with Will and Joan. Meantime Matt CONFRONTS th PRIVATE DICK he hired. But found him RELUCTANT to DISCLOSE the name of the other guy, until he used a PERSUASIVE method. After BEATING the PRIVATE DICK, Matt found out the other guy was Dr. Halleck. After Matt fled the scene, the PRIVATE made his way to the phone to call the FBI. But the phone call was cut off, due to Matt returning and shooting the PRIVATE DICK in cold blood.

Matt finds his way to Dr. Halleck's office to catch glimpse of him in a photograph, for he could identify him in a crowd. Matt makes a remark that " He's a GOOD-LOOKING guy", as he is escorted out of Dr. Halleck 's office by Nurse Milligan (Katherine Warren). Matt finds out that Dr. Halleck would be surgery all day. As Matt heads down the hall towards the surgery room, Nurse Milligan decides to call the F.B.I. A lone figure dressed in a TRENCH COAT makes his way to the Operating Room Theater. Matt looks down upon the group of surgeons performing SURGERY. He decides to take a seat bidding his time to strike.

Finally arriving at the hospital, Beth gets out to SEARCH for Matt inside.  While Will and Ann wait inside the car. Once inside, Beth immediately heads up to Operating Room Theater, like she was a CLAIRVOYANT. Immediately, Beth runs into Matt, telling that his brother waiting for them downstairs. Matt fills Beth in, that he knew she would show up. Beth tells Matt that she only there to get him. Matt doesn't believe her. When Beth attempts to REASSURE Matt, that there is NOTHING going on between the GOOD DOCTOR and herself. Suddenly sirens could be heard, which starts Matt thinking that Beth has SQUEALED to the COPPERS. Beth reminds Matt, that they are at a hospital and not a siren, but an ambulance.

But Beth was WRONG,  it was the F.B.I. moving in. Will and Ann tried to make a break for it. But they IDENTIFIED, before entering the elevator. Will pushes Ann inside the elevator, then open fires on the F.B.I. One of the policemen sprayed BULLETS into the closed elevator with a machine gun. When the elevator REOPENS we find Ann tending to Will who has been SHOT. 

Beth keeps trying to CONVINCE Matt to leave, telling him she'd come back with him and never leave again. But Matt doesn't believe her anymore. Matt rises to his feet, SMASHING the observatory's glass with his GUN. Now, that Matt has gotten the ATTENTION of the surgeons below. He DEMANDS  Dr. Halleck to STEP FORWARD or he will SHOOT  them all. Dr. Halleck comes forward, removing his SURGICAL MASK. Just before Matt was to GUN DOWN Dr. HalleckIN COLD BLOOD, Beth swiftly STRIKES Matt with her handbag. Matt FALLS back missing Dr. Halleck. The GOOD DOCTOR and the others scurried out of the operating room. 

Matt tries to make a BREAK for it,  SHOOTING the officers, who are ASCENDING onto the scene. Beth tries to PERSUADE Matt to give up, that he can't win. Matt finds a ladder, starts to scale it, but stops for a moment to take AIM at Beth saying 'Neither can you" then SHOOTS her. Then suddenly Matt comes CRASHING DOWN through the glass of the Operating Room Theater, after being SHOT.

Dr. Halleck immediate rushes to Beth's body. He discovers that she is still ALIVE.  The LADY CRIME BOSS immediately rush to SURGERY. While Beth is RECOVERING from her surgery, Dr. Halleck is told by the F.B.I., they will be recommending leniency towards Beth Austin for risking her life to save his. The finale has the GOOD DOCTOR and his rehabilitated LADY CRIME BOSS holding hands because she needs his strength.

  FILM FACTS :   

Dennis Morgan accepted the role of the eye surgeon in THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS (1952) in fear that he would be put on suspension. Morgan's star power has been losing its luster since WWII.

David Brain appeared in three Film Noirs with Joan Crawford, which are FLAMINGO ROAD (1949), THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950) and THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS (1952).

Phil Carey would later be known to Soap Opera Fans for his portrayal of the Texan Patriarch Asa Buchanan of ONE LIFE TO LIVE (1979 - 2007 ). 

IMMORTAL DIALOGUE :

" Dr. Nesburn... You don't have to PULL YOUR PUNCHES with me."

"Tell your adorable little brother to mind his manners or I will SLAP HIS FACE. "

"Doctor, you have other patients. You're wanted on the THIRD floor."

" They put you into the laundry and steam you as soft as a potato."

"Besides my terms are allot different for a good looking woman than a jealous man ."

           " How do you make PRINCESS DRESSING? "

" I came back and I'll NEVER leave you again."

           FABRICATED DIALOGUE:                                          

"Miss Crawford, are you absolutely sure you want to go through the cosmetic surgery to look like Baby Jane Hudson ?" 
               

THE CAST :                                                                               

Joan Crawford (Beth Austin), Dennis Morgan ( Dr. Steve Halleck) David Brian ( Matt Jackson), Phil Carey ( Will Jackson), Richard Webb ( James A. Franklin),  Mari Aldori ( Ann Jackson). Ian MacDonald ( Joe Grossland , Private Detective), Katherine Warren Nurse Mulligan).

MY BOTTOM LINE IS ...

THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS (1952) is another example of how Joan Crawford excelled playing Hard Bitten Dames from the Wrong Side of the Tracks. This Film Noir has been easily disregarded when in comparison to her other works in this genre which includes MILDRED PIERCE (1945), POSSESSED (1947), FLAMINGO ROAD (1949), THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950), and SUDDEN FEAR (1952). In my opinion, THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS deserves another look, you may be surprised how this film holds up with a new evaluation. Definitely not Crawford's worst film, even though the actress herself thinks so.

  Maybe the alternate title to the film should be THIS WOMAN IS STUCK IN A B MOVIE. But Crawford rises to the occasion making the best from the low rent script, giving another stellar performance. Personally, I love Crawford in these hard-boiled film noirs of the 1940s and 1950s. Crawford proves that she is a survivor, clawing her way out of the dark circumstances that her character has gotten herself into, time and time again. Sometimes with redemption, as it here with THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS (1952)  and other times she gets what's coming to her like in THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950).