DramaCrime

The Flame

- "I'D BE A FOOL TO LET LOVE STAND IN MY WAY!"

George McAllister, the black sheep of a wealthy family who has squandered his share of the family inheritance, lives in constant jealousy, hatred and resentment of his half-brother Barry, who has been supporting him. George gets his girlfriend, Carlotta Duval, a job as Barry's nurse, with the idea being to marry him, kill him, and inherit his money—and marrying George.

Release Date : 1947-11-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Republic Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : George MacAllister

Original Name : John Carroll

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carlotta Duval

Original Name : Vera Ralston

Gender : Female

Character Name : Barry MacAllister

Original Name : Robert Paige

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ernie Hicks

Original Name : Broderick Crawford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Mitchell

Original Name : Henry Travers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aunt Margaret

Original Name : Blanche Yurka

Gender : Female

Character Name : Helen Anderson

Original Name : Constance Dowling

Gender : Female

Character Name : Celia

Original Name : Hattie McDaniel

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chang

Original Name : Victor Sen Yung

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Minister

Original Name : Harry Cheshire

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : John Miljan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : Garry Owen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Eddie Dunn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in Hotel Lobby

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Roberson

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-27

This is told by way of the reading of a letter that explains the story of how "George" (John Carroll) has frittered away his family inheritance and is now dependent on his half-brother "Barry" (Robert Paige) - a situation which he bitterly resents. A solution to his predicament presents itself when he suggests that his girlfriend "Carlotta" (Vera Ralston) take up the position of nurse to the ailing "Barry". Their plan is quite simple, really. She befriends him, gets him to fall in love with her and then they marry. Once married, "Barry" will meet his end and she will be free to marry "George" and inherit the family fortune. It's not so much a flame this as a flicker. It's pretty obvious what's going to happen, and but for a few scenes with the scheming "Ernie" (Broderick Crawford) and Henry Travers as the well meaning "Dr. Mitchell" this story proves to not quite have the courage of it's convictions. It's all just a little too formulaic in the end. Blanche Yurka does her best impersonation of Queen Mary as his aunt "Blanche" - no fool, herself and Hattie McDaniel livens things up, sparingly, too - but sadly this all just goes the way of the damp squib after a promising start.