A Life at Stake (1954) [Film Noir] [Drama]

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“A Life at Stake” is an American Film Noir directed by Paul Guilfoyle. The film is also known as “Key Man”.

Down-on-his-luck Los Angeles architect and builder Edward Shaw (Keith Andes) is approached by Doris Hillman (Angela Lansbury) with a business proposal: buying land together, on which he would build houses that she would then sell, using her experience as a former real estate broker. Her husband, Gus Hillman, a wealthy businessman, would be willing to contribute half a million dollars as capital for the venture.

Doris quickly seems interested in more than a purely professional relationship. Shaw starts an affair with her and accepts the business offer. However, an accidental discovery leaves him convinced that the Hillmans’ interest lies less in the long-term profits of the venture than in the $175,000 key man insurance policy he took on himself as a precondition for the deal, and that an attempt on his life is imminent.

Madge, the younger sister of Doris, develops a romantic interest in Shaw as well. Without knowing what Doris has planned, she reveals to Shaw that her sister was married previously to a man who died in Wyoming when his car crashed over a bridge. Shaw ends up drugged by Gus Hillman and barely keeps his car from going off a cliff.

The police are skeptical about his story and the insurance company refuses to cancel the policy, Hillman having portrayed Shaw as a man who is trying to steal his wife. Madge teams with Shaw to try to foil her sister’s scheme, but Doris lures him to a mountain cabin and shoots him with a gun. A wounded Shaw sees both Hillmans struggle then fall to their deaths through a clifftop doorway, just minutes before Madge and the cops arrive.

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Directed by Paul Guilfoyle, produced by A.C. Burger (associate producer), Charles Maxwell (executive producer) and Hank McCune (producer), written by Russ Bender (screenplay) and Hank McCune (story idea), starring Angela Lansbury as Doris Hillman, Keith Andes as Edward Shaw, Douglass Dumbrille as Gus Hillman, Claudia Barrett as Madge Neilan, Jane Darwell as Landlady, Gavin Gordon as Sam Pearson, Charles Maxwell as Lt. Hoff, William Henry as Myles Norman, Kathleen Mulqueen as Mary, Dan Sturkie as Officer Biff, Jeane Wood as Mabel, the maid and Robert Haver as Mechanic.

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Source: “A Life at Stake” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 13 June 2013. Web. 16 August 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Life_at_Stake.

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45 Replies to “A Life at Stake (1954) [Film Noir] [Drama]”

  1. Not the best from the 50's but entertaining enough. I don't get the end though. She just kept shooting. She was a tough broad. Why did she keep shooting her husband? Altogether good though. Angela Lansbury is reason enough to watch

  5. good movie but it's not "Film Noir" that term refers to a style for shooting movie's in the shadows and the dark not for all black & white moves. come on learn the definitions of the words you use and wow Angela Lansbury was a hotty when she was younger.

  6. A 1953 Kaiser Darrin sports car and lines from the undressable Claudia Barrett like, "Here you are about to throw away your life by going off to the Australian bush or someplace.", what's not to like?

  23. (Referring to early part of movie): A rooming house with no private bath and no cell phone; try explaining that to the young folks of today!!

  26. You gotta love Noir leading men: whether they're private eyes, insurance men, architects or bee keepers, they're all street savvy, wise cracking, hard drinking guys that are suckers for the local femme fatale.

  35. I don't understand why Angela Lansbury was never lauded as a sex symbol. She's far prettier than Marilyn Munroe and a MUCH better actress than most of what Hollywood put out. I'm glad she's had "staying power" and we can still enjoy her craft.

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