CrimeThriller

The Threat

- KILLER IN JAILBREAK on vengeance trail!

A violent escaped con and his gang kidnap the police detective and DA who put him behind bars.

Release Date : 1949-12-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : RKO Radio Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Detective Ray Williams

Original Name : Michael O'Shea

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carol

Original Name : Virginia Grey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Arnold 'Red' Kluger

Original Name : Charles McGraw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ann Williams

Original Name : Julie Bishop

Gender : Female

Character Name : District Attorney Barker MacDonald

Original Name : Frank Conroy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Insp. 'Murph' Murphy

Original Name : Robert Shayne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nick Damon

Original Name : Anthony Caruso

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Turner

Original Name : Don McGuire

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lefty

Original Name : Frank Richards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank (uncredited)

Original Name : Kevin O'Morrison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ann's Friend

Original Name : Devera Burton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective Jensen

Original Name : Michael McHale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Fingerprint Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Jason Robards Sr.

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Arnold Kluger Escaped From Folsom Prison Tonight… The Threat is directed by Felix E. Feist and written by Dick Irving Hyland and Hugh King. It stars Charles McGraw, Virginia Grey, Michael O’Shea, Julie Bishop. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by Harry J. Wild. Maniac criminal Red Kluger escapes from jail and sets off to kidnap the three people he holds responsible for his incarceration. Compact at just over an hour in run time, The Threat is all about Charles McGraw impressing on everyone just what a great portrayer of hard cases he would become. Once the escape and set up of plot has been formed, pic basically confines itself to one cramped location as Kluger and his two henchmen hold four people hostage at their hideout, the fourth person being an unfortunate truck driver who has got in the way. The air of menace is palpable, the atmosphere hot and sweaty, and via torture, violence and mind games it builds to tough old climax, having got there without fuss or filler. Nothing memorable visually, and some of the screenplay involves characters doing daft things, but it’s a gritty “B” noir well worth taking a look at. Especially for McGraw’s performance. 7/10