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The Reckless Moment (1949)

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Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 0

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Movie Info

A blend of melodrama and film noir, The Reckless Moment stars Joan Bennett as Lucia Harper, a suburban housewife whose husband is away on business. Her daughter, Bea (Geraldine Brooks), an aspiring artist, has fallen for Ted Darby (Shepperd Strudwick), a shady older man from Los Angeles who claims to be an ex-art dealer. One night, after a secret rendezvous in the Harpers' boathouse that turns into an argument, Bea accidentally kills Darby. When Lucia discovers his body in the morning, she

Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.

Drama

Directed By: Max Oph�ls

Written By: Mel Dinelli, Henry Garson

Cast

James Mason
Martin Donnelly
Joan Bennett
Lucia Harper
Geraldine Brooks
Beatrice Harper
Henry O'Neill
Mr. Harper
Shepperd Strudwick
Ted Darby
David Blair
David Harper
Roy Roberts
Nagle
Frances E. Williams
Sybil
Jessie Arnold
Old Lady
Peter Brocco
Bartender
Paul E. Burns
Desk Clerk
John K. Butler
Pawnbroker
Kathryn Card
Mrs. Loring
Claire Carleton
Blonde
Boyd Davis
Tall Man
Karl (Killer) Davis
Wrestler
Everett Glass
Drug Clerk
Buddy Gorman
Magazine Clerk
Harry Harvey
Post Office Clerk
Virginia Hunter
Girl
Bobby Hyatt
Mud
Dan Jackson
Drummer
Charles Jordan
Man
Kenneth Kendall
Man
Norman Leavitt
Second Postal Clerk
Mike Mahoney
Policeman
Charles Marsh
Newsman
Louis Mason
Mike
Pat O'Malley
Bank Guard
Joseph Palmas
Card Player
Dorothy Phillips
Woman
John Roy
Man
Cosmo Sardo
William Schallert
Lieutenant
Ann Shoemaker
Mrs. Feller
Billy Snyder
Gambler
Jack Baker
Man
Ed Pine
Man
Glenn Thompson
Policeman
Gail Bonney
Woman
George Dockstader
Man
Sue Moore
Woman
Byron Poindexter
Man
Joe Recht
Newsboy
Pat Barton
Receptionist
Al Bayne
Holger Bendixen
John Monaghan
Policeman
Barry Regan
Charles Evans
Bank Official
Robert Gordon

Critic Reviews for The Reckless Moment

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)

It certainly makes for the purest and most impossible love of [Max] Ophuls' films, and for me, the most emotionally compelling.

September 28, 2009 Full Review Source: Parallax View

| Comment

Sean Axmaker

Parallax View

a rather original take on what is usually a very pedestrian setup

August 12, 2009 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

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Chris Cabin

Filmcritic.com

A very engaging thriller...

March 12, 2003 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for The Reckless Moment

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Affecting but slightly unsatisfying real-world noir. Wonderful in parts but rushed in others. I'm thinking perhaps the demands of Hollywood and a modest budget took a couple courses out of this film.

May 1, 2007

Bob Stinson

Super Reviewer

Taut drama with the always underrated Joan Bennett great as the panicked mother and James Mason just right as the conflicted anti-hero. Wonderfully directed by Ophuls and atmospherically shot this was updated as The Deep End with Tilda Swinton also a fine film but this has a distinct allure of its own.

January 23, 2012

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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