To continue with my string of "G"-Men films, I picked out 1954's 'Security Risk'. This is a low rent programmer from Allied Artists that was made at the height of the Red Scare era. John Ireland plays a FBI agent whose assignment is to keep an eye on John Craven. Craven is a government atomic scientist on a winter vacation. After a day on the ski slopes Ireland and Craven hit the lounge for cocktails. After a few drinks Craven returns to his cabin to change. When he walks in, he finds his assistant, Keith Larsen, photographing Craven's private papers. (Needless to say that Larsen is really a Red spy) A brisk fight breaks out and Craven is killed. Larsen loads up the stiff in his car and takes Craven out on a secluded ski run to stage a accident. While all this is going on, Ireland is still at the bar where he is chatting up Dorothy Malone. Malone and her sister, Dolores Donlon, have just arrived to take in a bit of the ski slopes themselves. The twist here is that Donlon had been walking by Craven's room and had seen everything. Donlon is not the type of girl one spoke about in polite company. She is also an enterprising young lass who knows a business opportunity when she sees it. Donlon decides that a spot of blackmail is in order. 10 grand or she goes to the police, she tells Larson after he returns from dumping Craven's body. Larson contacts his superiors who "just happen" to be running a Communist spy ring out of the local sporting goods shop. "Pretend to pay and find out what she knows." are his instructions. Back at the ski slope Craven's body is discovered draped over a rock. The local law enforcement are called and they figure it to be a skiing mishap. Ireland of course is not so sure and searches Craven's rooms. He decides the accident was really a set-up and that Larsen is the number one suspect. He tumbles to the fact that Donlon is also mixed up somehow in the mess. FBI reinforcements arrive and Ireland and the boys close in to put the grab on Larsen. Larsen snaps up Donlon as a shield as he plugs one of the FBI men with a pistol. The two pile into a car and speed off to catch a waiting plane. Larson and Donlon lead the law on a chase by car, then by foot through the hills. They reach a small airfield where the Reds from the sporting goods store are waiting. There is a brisk exchange of gunfire which stops Larsen and his fellow travellers from escaping. The survivor's are rounded up for a trip to jail. Donlon is not so lucky as she was killed along with Larsen in the gun battle.
An enjoyable 70 minute low budget programmer that moves along at a brisk pace.
There must have been a deal on Jane Russell bras from all the upper-works on display in this film. At age 19, Dolores Donlon was voted most popular armed forces pin-up of 1945. She was also Miss Cheesecake of 1953 and Miss August 1957 for PLAYBOY! John Ireland was in RAILROADED, THE GANGSTER, ROUGHSHOD, I LOVE TROUBLE, RED RIVER, OPEN SECRET, RAW DEAL, THE WALKING HILLS, UNDERCOVER MAN, PARTY GIRL, THE GLASS CAGE, THE SCARF and THE GOOD DIE YOUNG. The rest of the cast included, Suzanne Ta Fel, Murray Alper, Steve Clark, Burt Wenland and Joe Bassett. The story and screenplay was by John Rich. The director was Harold Schuster whose work included LOOPHOLE, PORT OF HELL and FINGER MAN. The d of p was John Martin who lensed THE BIG CHASE, PORT OF HELL, THE TIP OFF and HIGHWAY DRAGNET.
An enjoyable 70 minute low budget programmer that moves along at a brisk pace.
There must have been a deal on Jane Russell bras from all the upper-works on display in this film. At age 19, Dolores Donlon was voted most popular armed forces pin-up of 1945. She was also Miss Cheesecake of 1953 and Miss August 1957 for PLAYBOY! John Ireland was in RAILROADED, THE GANGSTER, ROUGHSHOD, I LOVE TROUBLE, RED RIVER, OPEN SECRET, RAW DEAL, THE WALKING HILLS, UNDERCOVER MAN, PARTY GIRL, THE GLASS CAGE, THE SCARF and THE GOOD DIE YOUNG. The rest of the cast included, Suzanne Ta Fel, Murray Alper, Steve Clark, Burt Wenland and Joe Bassett. The story and screenplay was by John Rich. The director was Harold Schuster whose work included LOOPHOLE, PORT OF HELL and FINGER MAN. The d of p was John Martin who lensed THE BIG CHASE, PORT OF HELL, THE TIP OFF and HIGHWAY DRAGNET.
