Moment of Danger

Moment of Danger

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1960
Products	Crime drama film

Moment of Danger, also released under the titles Malaga and The Takers, is a British crime drama film from 1960 featuring performances by Trevor Howard, Dorothy Dandridge, and Edmund Purdom. The script, penned by David D. Osborn, is an adaptation of a novel by . This production represents the last completed movie appearance of Dorothy Dandridge.

Plot

The story begins with a jewel robbery carried out by the thief Peter Curran alongside locksmith John Bain. After the heist, Curran betrays Bain, leaves behind his lover Gianna, and flees with the stolen valuables. In response, Gianna joins forces with Bain to pursue Curran for retribution, during which a romantic bond develops between them.

Cast

• Trevor Howard as John Bain
• Dorothy Dandridge as Gianna
• Edmund Purdom as Peter Carran
• Michael Hordern as Inspector Farrell
• Paul Stassino as Juan Montoya
• John Bailey as Cecil
• Alfred Burke as Shapley
• Peter Illing as pawnbroker
• Martin Boddey as Sir John Middleburgh

Background

Prior to its release, media coverage emphasized the narrative focus on a couple fleeing from authorities, highlighting Gianna’s extreme efforts to evade capture. Michael Hordern’s role is that of a compassionate inspector who is aware of the crime but lacks sufficient proof to make an arrest.

One publication pointed out that the kiss shared between Trevor Howard’s character and Dorothy Dandridge’s Gianna was promoted as her first on-screen kiss with a white actor; however, the actors barely made contact, as director László Benedek chose to convey restrained sexual tension. It should be noted that Dandridge’s true initial screen kiss occurred earlier in the 1958 Italian film Tamango.

Production

Shooting took place across various European locations toward the end of 1959.

Release

The movie had its debut at London’s Warner Theatre in Leicester Square on 28 January 1960.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin praised the opening robbery scene for its effective suspense but described the overall thriller as maintaining a subdued level of dramatic tension. Trevor Howard’s portrayal was commended for its resolve; nevertheless, the storyline and characters were considered insufficiently compelling to fully captivate viewers.