Cry Wolf (1947 film)

Cry Wolf

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Peter Godfrey
Produced by Henry Blanke
Screenplay by Catherine Turney
Based on the novel Cry Wolf
by Marjorie Carleton
Starring Errol Flynn
Barbara Stanwyck
Music by Franz Waxman
Cinematography Carl E. Guthrie
Edited by Folmar Blangsted
Production
company
Thomson Production
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
 18 July 1947[1]
Running time
 83 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $2 million (US rentals)[2]

Cry Wolf is a 1947 mystery film directed by Peter Godfrey and featuring Errol Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck, based on the novel of the same name by Marjorie Carleton.[3]

Plot

Sandra Marshall (Barbara Stanwyck), the widow of the owner of a remote mansion, arrives to take charge and claim the inheritance of her late husband. She receives a cold reception, especially from research scientist Mark Caldwell (Errol Flynn), who seems to be keeping her sister-in-law Julie (Geraldine Brooks) a virtual prisoner in the house.

Cast

Production

The novel was published in early 1945. The New York Times said "the plot has pace; the manse is traditionally eerie, the heroine is charming. Situations and dialogue, however, are often clumsily handled."[4] By April, Warner Bros bought the film rights as a vehicle for Barbra Stanwyck.[5] Catherine Turney was assigned to do the script and Denis Morgan announced as co star.[6]

The film took a while to be made. In March 1946, Errol Flynn was announced as co star and Peter Godfrey as director.[7] Dorothy Malone was originally announced to play the second lead.[8] Two of the supporting cast were from the New York stage, Geraldine Brooks and Richard Basehart, and had just been put under contract by Warner Bros.[9][10]

Filming took place in August 1946.[11]

Reception

The film was not released until July 1947.

Critical

The Wall Street Journal said the film was "often as dull as it is frightening because its melodramatic story is full of cliches... without tommy gun or sword, Mr Flynn seems unhappily wooden."[12] The Christian Science Monitor said it "grips the attention and holds it right through...the result is something well above average."[13] "It's melodramatic antics are rather fun," said the Washington Post.[14]

The Los Angeles Times called the film "murky" and "fairly opaque" although it felt audiences "are likely to be impressed by the performance of Flynn."[15]

Box Office

The film was moderately successful at the box office, Variety estimating its rentals in the US and Canada at $2 million.[2]

References

  1. ↑ RUSSELL TO STAR IN 'VELVET TOUCH': Sidney Greenstreet to Share Top Honors in Independent Artists' Production Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 18 July 1947: 21.
  2. 1 2 "Top Grossers of 1947", Variety, 7 January 1948 p 63
  3. ↑ Cry Wolf at the American Film Institute Catalog.
  4. ↑ Other Items on the Fiction List New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 28 Jan 1945: BR10.
  5. ↑ SCREEN NEWS: TO AID ACTORS FUND Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 19 Apr 1945: 22.
  6. ↑ Looking at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 09 Aug 1945: 21.
  7. ↑ Looking at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 25 Mar 1946: 21.
  8. ↑ Hopper, Hedda. Looking at Hollywood. Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 May 1946: 18.
  9. ↑ Schallert, Edwin. "Stage Mimicry Leads Girl to Cinema Career". Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1946: A7.
  10. ↑ TONY MARTIN SET FOR M-G-M MUSICAL: Named Co-Star With Kathryn Grayson in 'Kissing Bandit' --3 Arrivals Due Today Of Local Origin Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 08 May 1946: 43.
  11. ↑ DRAMA AND FILM: Carter, Wynn Teaming in 'Century' Talked Up Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 Apr 1947: A3.
  12. ↑ The Theatre: Murder in a Laboratory Wall Street Journal (1923 - Current file) [New York, N.Y] 21 July 1947: 10.
  13. ↑ David Niven As Doctor In 'Other Love': 'Cry Wolf' D.M.D.M.. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-Current file) [Boston, Mass] 08 Aug 1947: 5.
  14. ↑ Melodramatic Antics: 'Cry Wolf' Mixes Stanwyck, Flynn By Richard L. Coe. The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 08 Aug 1947: 23.
  15. ↑ 'CRY WOLF' ERRATIC Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 09 Aug 1947: A5.

Other references

  1. Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 147.
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