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{{Short description|1956 film by Harry Keller}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Unguarded Moment
| name = The Unguarded Moment
Line 5: Line 6:
| producer = [[Gordon Kay (producer)|Gordon Kay]]
| producer = [[Gordon Kay (producer)|Gordon Kay]]
| director = [[Harry Keller]]
| director = [[Harry Keller]]
| screenplay = Herb Meadow<br/>Larry Marcus
| screenplay = [[Herb Meadow]]<br/>[[Lawrence B. Marcus|Larry Marcus]]
| story = [[Rosalind Russell]]
| story = [[Rosalind Russell]]
| starring = [[Esther Williams]]<br/>[[George Nader]]<br/>[[John Saxon]]<br/>[[Edward Andrews]]
| starring = [[Esther Williams]]<br/>[[George Nader]]<br/>[[John Saxon]]<br/>[[Edward Andrews]]
| music = [[Herman Stein]]
| music = [[Herman Stein]]
| cinematography = [[William H. Daniels]]
| cinematography = [[William H. Daniels]]
| editing = Edward Curtiss
| editing = [[Edward Curtiss]]
| color_process = [[Technicolor]]
| studio = Universal International
| distributor = [[Universal International]]
| studio = Universal International Pictures
| distributor = [[Universal Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1956|11||United States}}
| released = {{Film date|1956|12|27|}}
| runtime = 95 minutes
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
}}
}}
'''''The Unguarded Moment''''' is a 1956 American [[Technicolor]] [[film noir]] [[mystery fiction|mystery]] [[thriller (genre)|thriller film]] directed by [[Harry Keller]] starring [[Esther Williams]], [[George Nader]], [[John Saxon]] and [[Edward Andrews]].<ref name="notes">{{cite news |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94466/The-Unguarded-Moment/notes.html |title=The Unguarded Moment: Notes |accessdate=2012-07-29|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]] }}</ref>
'''''The Unguarded Moment''''' is a 1956 American [[crime film|crime]] [[film noir]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Harry Keller]] and starring [[Esther Williams]], [[George Nader]], [[John Saxon]], and [[Edward Andrews]].<ref name="notes">{{cite news |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94466/The-Unguarded-Moment/notes.html |title=The Unguarded Moment: Notes |accessdate=2012-07-29|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]] }}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Lois Conway (Williams) works as a music teacher at a local high school in a small town, where recently a woman was found murdered. When she starts receiving notes from an anonymous admirer, she suspects her favorite student Sandy (Wilder) is responsible, and tells him they could never be lovers. The notes grow more violent and when, in her latest letter, she is invited to meet at the school's lockers at night, Lois decides to visit, hoping to stop the young man. There, she is attacked by an initial shadowy figure, whom she later identifies as Leonard Bennett (Saxon), the high school's star football player.
Lois Conway (Williams) works as a music teacher at a local high school in a small town, where recently a woman was found murdered. When she starts receiving notes from an anonymous admirer, she suspects her favorite student Sandy (Wilder) is responsible, and tells him they could never be lovers. The notes grow more violent, and when, in her latest letter, she is invited to meet at the school's lockers at night, Lois decides to visit, hoping to stop the young man. There, she is attacked by an initial shadowy figure, whom she later identifies as Leonard Bennett (Saxon), the high school's star football player.


She successfully gets away, though drops her purse, and is aided by Lieutenant Harry Graham (Nader). Graham advises her to press charges, but Lois wants to drop the matter in hopes of it blowing over.
She successfully gets away, though drops her purse, and is aided by Lieutenant Harry Graham (Nader). Graham advises her to press charges, but Lois wants to drop the matter in hopes of it blowing over. Back at home, she notices her purse on her table, and aware that the thief is in her home, orders him to leave. As he bashes through the door to get away, Lois is now certain that Leonard is her attacker. Leonard is able to get home without his dominant and overbearing father (Andrews) noticing he is gone. Mr. Bennett lectures his son on the dangers of women, stimulated by the occurrence of him being left by his wife and Leonard's mother when he was very ill.


The following day, Lois reports the incident to the principal Pendleton (Tremayne), but when Leonard denies the whole matter, Pendleton protects the school's most valuable athletic asset by suggesting to Lois that she should provide evidence. Soon, the story spreads around school, and with gossip surrounding Lois allegedly pursuing Leonard, both her personal and professional lives become a mess. One day, she pulls him out of class and tries to reason with him, but he refuses to listen to her. Meanwhile, she grows closer to Graham, who does not understand why she is sympathetic to Leonard. Nonetheless, she decides to visit the Bennetts, but the father does not want her to interfere with his son and accuses her of seducing Leonard. He is startled, though, upon finding out the police are now involved in the matter. Mr. Bennett is unaware that Leonard again sneaked out of his room to visit a waitress whom he has dated in the past. Sometime later, Graham accompanies Lois to a football game, where Graham is inspired to retrieve Leonard's fingerprints from his locker. The fingerprints turn out to match those found at Lois' place.
Back at home, she notices her purse on her table, and aware that the thief is in her home, orders him to leave. As he bashes through the door to get away, Lois is now certain that Leonard is her attacker.


⚫
At a school dance, she tries to warn Leonard about the police discovery, assuring him he will get into big trouble if he does not come clean. Leonard, for the first time, speaks truthfully to her, but they are interrupted by Mr. Bennett, who convinces Leonard that Lois is manipulating him. Leonard asks her to meet him in the cloak room to discuss the matter, but Lois is unaware Mr. Bennett and Pendleton are hiding in the same room. Her presence convinces them she must be having an affair with the teenager. Lois, being tricked by Leonard, falls into Graham's arms, and finally allows him to arrest the kid. At the police station, the now suspended Lois is brought in by Graham to get an honest confession from Leonard. During the interrogation, the couple is informed that another man has admitted to having committed the murder. Graham wants to continue prosecuting Leonard for breaking into Lois' apartment, but she wants to drop the case and orders him to bring the boy home.
Leonard is able to get home without his dominant and overbearing father (Andrews) noticing he is gone. Mr. Bennett lectures his son on the dangers of women, stimulated by the occurrence of him being left by his wife and Leonard's mother when he was very ill.

The following day, Lois reports the incident to the principal Pendleton (Tremayne), but when Leonard denies the whole matter, Pendleton protects the school's most valuable athletic asset by suggesting to Lois that she should provide evidence.

Soon the story spreads around school, and with gossip surrounding Lois allegedly pursuing Leonard, both her personal and professional life becomes a mess. One day, she pulls him out of class and tries to reason with him, but he refuses to listen to her. Meanwhile, she grows closer to Graham, who does not understand why she is sympathetic to Leonard.

Nonetheless, she decides to visit the Bennetts, but the father does not want her to interfere with his son and accuses her of seducing Leonard. He is startled, though, upon finding out the police are now involved in the matter. Mr. Bennett is unaware that Leonard again sneaked out of his room to visit a waitress whom he has dated in the past.

Sometime later, Graham accompanies Lois to a football game, where Graham is inspired to retrieve Leonard's fingerprints from his locker. It turns out the fingerprints match those found at Lois' place.

⚫
At a school dance, she tries to warn Leonard about the police discovery, assuring him he will get into big trouble if he does not come clean. Leonard, for the first time, speaks truthfully to her, but they are interrupted by Mr. Bennett, who convinces Leonard Lois is manipulating him. Leonard asks her to meet him in the cloak room to discuss the matter, but Lois is unaware Mr. Bennett and Pendleton are hiding in the same room. Her presence convinces them she must be having an affair with the teenager. Lois, being tricked by Leonard, falls into Graham's arms, and finally allows him to arrest the kid.

At the police station, the now suspended Lois is brought in by Graham to get an honest confession from Leonard. During the interrogation, the couple is informed that another man has admitted to having committed the murder. Graham wants to continue prosecuting Leonard for breaking into Lois' apartment, but she wants to drop the case and orders him to bring the boy home.


Back home, Lois is about to undress, when suddenly Mr. Bennett jumps out of her closet and starts assaulting her. At the same moment, Leonard, impressed by having been forgiven by his teacher, confesses to Graham that his father is responsible for the murders. Graham decides to share the news with Lois and arrives at her home just in time to save her from being murdered by Mr. Bennett. Bennett suffers a heart attack after attempting to flee the scene, and dies in front of Leonard.
Back home, Lois is about to undress, when suddenly Mr. Bennett jumps out of her closet and starts assaulting her. At the same moment, Leonard, impressed by having been forgiven by his teacher, confesses to Graham that his father is responsible for the murders. Graham decides to share the news with Lois and arrives at her home just in time to save her from being murdered by Mr. Bennett. Bennett suffers a heart attack after attempting to flee the scene, and dies in front of Leonard.
Line 50: Line 40:
* [[Les Tremayne]] as Principal Pendleton
* [[Les Tremayne]] as Principal Pendleton
* [[Jack Albertson]] as Prof
* [[Jack Albertson]] as Prof
* Dani Crayne as Josie Warren
* [[Dani Crayne]] as Josie Warren
* John Wilder as Sandy
* [[John Wilder (producer)|John Wilder]] as Sandy
* [[Edward Platt]] as Attorney Briggs (as Eldward C. Platt)
* [[Edward Platt]] as Attorney Briggs (as Eldward C. Platt)
* [[Eleanor Audley]] as Mr. Pendleton's Secretary
* [[Eleanor Audley]] as Mr. Pendleton's Secretary
Line 59: Line 49:


===Development===
===Development===
The origin of ''The Unguarded Moment'' is as surprising as Esther Williams' casting in it. According to biographer Bernard F. Dick in ''Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell'', the story idea came from writer Larry Marcus and Rosalind Russell, as a possible vehicle for herself. (Marcus had written scripts for Russell's own production company.)<ref>KRAMER AND KATZ PLAN MOVIE FIRM: Producer and Theatre Owner Negotiating on Establishment of New Coast Company Of Local Origin
The origin of ''The Unguarded Moment'' is as surprising as Esther Williams' casting in it. According to biographer Bernard F. Dick in ''Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell'', the story idea came from writer Larry Marcus and Rosalind Russell, as a possible vehicle for herself. (Marcus had written scripts for Russell's own production company.)<ref>{{Cite news|title=KRAMER AND KATZ PLAN MOVIE FIRM: Producer and Theatre Owner Negotiating on Establishment of New Coast Company Of Local Origin|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|date=Oct 24, 1950|work=New York Times|page=32}}</ref>
By THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 24 Oct 1950: 32.</ref>


The first draft of the screenplay by Marcus and Russell (under the pseudonym C.A. McKnight, her mother's maiden name) had a working title of ''Teach Me to Love'' and was completed by 1951.<ref name="notes" />
The first draft of the screenplay by Marcus and Russell (under the pseudonym C.A. McKnight, her mother's maiden name) had a working title of ''Teach Me to Love'' and was completed by 1951.<ref name="notes" /> In a 1951 draft of the story, Harry Graham was a fellow teacher instead of a policeman, and Leonard Bennett was revealed to be responsible for the murders, before being killed.<ref name="rosalind">''Forever Mama: The Life of Rosalind Russell'' by Bernard F. Dick. p. 141.</ref>


In 1952, the story, then called ''The Hidden Heart'', was announced to have been purchased by Benagoss Productions, which had made ''[[The Green Glove]]''. [[Herb Meadow]] had worked on the script and [[Rudolph Mate|Rudolph Maté]] was to direct.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Benagoss to Produce 'Hidden Heart;' Carroll Back for 'Condor's Nest'|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Jan 17, 1952|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B9}}</ref> The story was originally set in France but the setting was changed to California. Possible female stars discussed in the press included [[Olivia de Havilland]], [[Loretta Young]], and [[Teresa Wright]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Drama: Benagoss Will Produce Feature Here; Noted Ballets in Kelly Film|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=June 23, 1952|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B7}}</ref> The movie was not made.
In a 1951 draft of the story, Harry Graham was a fellow teacher instead of a policeman, and Leonard Bennett was revealed to be responsible for the murders, before being killed.<ref name="rosalind">''Forever Mama: The Life of Rosalind Russell'' by Bernard F. Dick. p. 141.</ref>


⚫
Russell had no time to work on the screenplay, as she became busy with back-to-back Broadway productions, including ''[[Wonderful Town]]'', ''[[The Girl Rush]]'', and ''[[Picnic (play)|Picnic]]''. As a result, she did not return to the project until 1955, when Marcus and scenarist Meadow had made further revisions to the script under the working titles ''The Lie'' and ''The Hidden Heart''.<ref name="rosalind" />
In 1952 it was announced the story, called ''The Hidden Heart'' had been purchased by Benagoss Productions, who had made ''[[The Green Glove]]''. [[Herbert Meadow]] had worked on the script and [[Rudolph Mate]] was to direct.<ref>Benagoss to Produce 'Hidden Heart;' Carroll Back for 'Condor's Nest'
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 17 Jan 1952: B9.</ref> The story had been originally set in France but was relocated to California. Possible female stars discussed in the press included [[Olivia de Havilland]], [[Loretta Young]] and [[Teresa Wright]].<ref>Drama: Benagoss Will Produce Feature Here; Noted Ballets in Kelly Film
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 23 June 1952: B7.</ref> The movie was not made.


In October 1955, Universal International announced it had purchased the script, with Gordon Kay to produce.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Drama: Saint Husband, Jeffrey Hayden, Pacted; 'Hidden Heart' Unique Purchase|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Oct 14, 1955|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B9}}</ref> (It was later estimated Russell and Marcus made $50,000 for their work on the film.<ref>{{Cite news|title=BY WAY OF: 'Oedipus Rex' to Face camera--Other Items|author=A.H. WEILER|date=Jan 29, 1956|work=New York Times|page=101}}</ref>) In November, Esther Williams signed on to play the lead in the film, by then titled ''The Gentle Webb'' (''sic'').<ref>{{Cite news|title=ESTHER WILLIAMS TAKES A DRY ROLE: Swim Star to Act a Straight Part in Screen Play About a High School Teacher|date=Nov 23, 1955|work=New York Times|page=17}}</ref>
⚫
Russell had no time to work on the screenplay as she became busy with back to back Broadway productions including ''[[Wonderful Town]]'', ''[[The Girl Rush]]'' and ''[[Picnic]]''. As a result, she didn't return to the project until 1955 when Marcus and scenarist Herb Meadow had made further revisions to the script under working titles of ''The Lie'' and ''The Hidden Heart''.<ref name="rosalind" />

In October 1955 it was announced Universal International had purchased the script and Gordon Kay was going to produce.<ref>Drama: Saint Husband, Jeffrey Hayden, Pacted; 'Hidden Heart' Unique Purchase
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 14 Oct 1955: B9.</ref> (It was later estimated Russell and Marcus made $50,000 for their work on the film.<ref>BY WAY OF: 'Oedipus Rex' to Face camera--Other Items
By A.H. WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 29 Jan 1956: 101.</ref>)

In November Esther Williams signed on to play the lead and the film was called ''The Gentle Webb''.<ref>ESTHER WILLIAMS TAKES A DRY ROLE: Swim Star to Act a Straight Part in Screen Play About a High School Teacher
Special to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 23 Nov 1955: 17.</ref>


===Casting===
===Casting===
Actor [[John Saxon]] had yet to make a name for himself when the film went into production. He received the co-starring role after several screen tests, and the studio attempted to make him fill the void actor [[James Dean]] left when he died.<ref name="notes" />
Actor [[John Saxon]] had yet to make a name for himself when the film went into production. He received the co-starring role after several screen tests, and the studio attempted to make him fill the void left by actor [[James Dean]]'s death.<ref name="notes" /> For Esther Williams, the film was her first since her contract ended with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], and it proved to be her first non-swimming dramatic role since ''[[The Hoodlum Saint]]'' (1946).<ref name="notes" /> In her autobiography, Williams noted:
⚫
<blockquote>I thought it was a curious choice for Universal to offer me the lead in a 'dry' psychological thriller, and I wasn't sure the public would accept me without my glittering crowns and sparkly swimsuits. Nonetheless, Universal offered me $200,000, which was more than I ever made for a single film at MGM in or out of the water .... Later, after we had started shooting, Rosalind Russell came up to me at a party and said, 'I hear you're doing my script.' I looked at her blankly until she explained that she had written it under the pseudonym C. A. McKnight. 'I wrote the part for me, but I got too old.'"<ref name="article" /></blockquote>

For [[Esther Williams]], the film was her first since her contract ended with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], and it proved to be her first non-swimming dramatic role since ''[[The Hoodlum Saint]]'' (1946).<ref name="notes" />

In her autobiography, she noted:
⚫
<blockquote>I thought it was a curious choice for Universal to offer me the lead in a 'dry' psychological thriller, and I wasn't sure the public would accept me without my glittering crowns and sparkly swimsuits. Nonetheless, Universal offered me $200,000, which was more than I ever made for a single film at MGM in or out of the water...Later, after we had started shooting, Rosalind Russell came up to me at a party and said, 'I hear you're doing my script.' I looked at her blankly until she explained that she had written it under the pseudonym C. A. McKnight. 'I wrote the part for me, but I got too old.'"<ref name="article" /></blockquote>


==Reception==
==Reception==
The film flopped at the box office.<ref name="article" /> Saxon received warm reviews for his performance of Leonard Bennett.<ref name="notes" />
The film flopped at the box office.<ref name="article" /> Saxon received warm reviews for his performance as Leonard Bennett.<ref name="notes" /> Some reviewers lauded Williams' performance, others lamented her change of milieu.<ref name="notes" /> Russell later wrote that Williams was "very good in" the film.<ref name="article"/>

Some reviewers lauded Williams' performance, others lamented her change of milieu.<ref name="notes" /> Russell later wrote that Williams was "very good in" the film.<ref name="article"/>

The ''Chicago Tribune'' said that "the film is a pleasant surprise... the well knit story has suspense and the dialogue is excellent."<ref>Miss Williams Star of Sharp Mystery Film: "THE UNGUARDED MOMENT"
TINEE, MAE. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 28 Sep 1956: a10.</ref>

The ''Los Angeles Times'' said "it carries enough suspense to please any but rabid devotees".<ref>Swim Star Stays Dry in Drama
Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 04 Oct 1956: B7.</ref>


The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote that "the film is a pleasant surprise... the well knit story has suspense and the dialogue is excellent."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Miss Williams Star of Sharp Mystery Film: "THE UNGUARDED MOMENT"|author=TINEE, MAE.|date=Sep 28, 1956|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|page=a10}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote that "it carries enough suspense to please any but rabid devotees".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Swim Star Stays Dry in Drama|author=Scott, John L.|date=Oct 4, 1956|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B7}}</ref>
In present days, the film is regarded as a [[B film]], despite the fact it was heavily promoted in the 1950s.<ref name="article">{{cite web |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94466/The-Unguarded-Moment/articles.html |title=The Unguarded Moment: Overview Article |accessdate=2012-07-29|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref>


According to [[Turner Classic Movies]], Williams "unintentionally accents [her] limitations as a dramatic actress though she still looks gorgeous. [..] While Esther Williams is the top-billed star of ''The Unguarded Moment'', it is Andrews' unexpectedly creepy performance that hijacks the film and imbues it with an underlying mood of malice and menace."<ref name="article" />
The picture has come to be regarded as a [[B film]], despite it originally being as heavily promoted as other studio pictures in the 1950s.<ref name="article">{{cite web |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94466/The-Unguarded-Moment/articles.html |title=The Unguarded Moment: Overview Article |accessdate=2012-07-29|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref> According to [[Turner Classic Movies]], Williams "unintentionally accents [her] limitations as a dramatic actress though she still looks gorgeous. [..] While Esther Williams is the top-billed star of ''The Unguarded Moment'', it is Andrews' unexpectedly creepy performance that hijacks the film and imbues it with an underlying mood of malice and menace."<ref name="article" />


==See also==
==See also==
Line 110: Line 78:
==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0049904|The Unguarded Moment}}
* {{IMDb title|0049904|The Unguarded Moment}}
* {{Amg title|115158|The Unguarded Moment}}
* {{TCMDb title|94466|The Unguarded Moment}}
⚫
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022011037/http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2012/08/the-unguarded-moment-1956.html ''The Unguarded Moment'']}} review at Film Noir of the Week by Wheeler Winston Dixon
* {{tcmdb title|94466|The Unguarded Moment}}
⚫
* [http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2012/08/the-unguarded-moment-1956.html ''The Unguarded Moment''] review at Film Noir of the Week by Wheeler Winston Dixon
* {{YouTube|Y1wDws4TQ-k|''The Unguarded Moment'' film trailer}}
* {{YouTube|Y1wDws4TQ-k|''The Unguarded Moment'' film trailer}}


{{Harry Keller}}
{{Harry Keller}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Unguarded Moment, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unguarded Moment}}
[[Category:1956 films]]
[[Category:1956 films]]
[[Category:1950s drama films]]
[[Category:Film noir]]
⚫
[[Category:1956 drama films]]
[[Category:1950s thriller films]]
[[Category:1950s thriller films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American thriller films]]
⚫
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American high school films]]
[[Category:American high school films]]
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[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about educators]]
[[Category:Films about educators]]
[[Category:Films directed by Victor Saville]]
[[Category:Films directed by Victor Saville]]
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[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Harry Keller]]
[[Category:Films directed by Harry Keller]]
[[Category:Films scored by Herman Stein]]
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[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
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[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s American films]]
[[Category:English-language thriller films]]

Latest revision as of 12:26, 22 December 2024

The Unguarded Moment
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHarry Keller
Screenplay byHerb Meadow
Larry Marcus
Story byRosalind Russell
Produced byGordon Kay
StarringEsther Williams
George Nader
John Saxon
Edward Andrews
CinematographyWilliam H. Daniels
Edited byEdward Curtiss
Music byHerman Stein
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Universal International Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • December 27, 1956 (1956-12-27)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Unguarded Moment is a 1956 American crime film noir thriller film directed by Harry Keller and starring Esther Williams, George Nader, John Saxon, and Edward Andrews.[1]

Plot

[edit]

Lois Conway (Williams) works as a music teacher at a local high school in a small town, where recently a woman was found murdered. When she starts receiving notes from an anonymous admirer, she suspects her favorite student Sandy (Wilder) is responsible, and tells him they could never be lovers. The notes grow more violent, and when, in her latest letter, she is invited to meet at the school's lockers at night, Lois decides to visit, hoping to stop the young man. There, she is attacked by an initial shadowy figure, whom she later identifies as Leonard Bennett (Saxon), the high school's star football player.

She successfully gets away, though drops her purse, and is aided by Lieutenant Harry Graham (Nader). Graham advises her to press charges, but Lois wants to drop the matter in hopes of it blowing over. Back at home, she notices her purse on her table, and aware that the thief is in her home, orders him to leave. As he bashes through the door to get away, Lois is now certain that Leonard is her attacker. Leonard is able to get home without his dominant and overbearing father (Andrews) noticing he is gone. Mr. Bennett lectures his son on the dangers of women, stimulated by the occurrence of him being left by his wife and Leonard's mother when he was very ill.

The following day, Lois reports the incident to the principal Pendleton (Tremayne), but when Leonard denies the whole matter, Pendleton protects the school's most valuable athletic asset by suggesting to Lois that she should provide evidence. Soon, the story spreads around school, and with gossip surrounding Lois allegedly pursuing Leonard, both her personal and professional lives become a mess. One day, she pulls him out of class and tries to reason with him, but he refuses to listen to her. Meanwhile, she grows closer to Graham, who does not understand why she is sympathetic to Leonard. Nonetheless, she decides to visit the Bennetts, but the father does not want her to interfere with his son and accuses her of seducing Leonard. He is startled, though, upon finding out the police are now involved in the matter. Mr. Bennett is unaware that Leonard again sneaked out of his room to visit a waitress whom he has dated in the past. Sometime later, Graham accompanies Lois to a football game, where Graham is inspired to retrieve Leonard's fingerprints from his locker. The fingerprints turn out to match those found at Lois' place.

At a school dance, she tries to warn Leonard about the police discovery, assuring him he will get into big trouble if he does not come clean. Leonard, for the first time, speaks truthfully to her, but they are interrupted by Mr. Bennett, who convinces Leonard that Lois is manipulating him. Leonard asks her to meet him in the cloak room to discuss the matter, but Lois is unaware Mr. Bennett and Pendleton are hiding in the same room. Her presence convinces them she must be having an affair with the teenager. Lois, being tricked by Leonard, falls into Graham's arms, and finally allows him to arrest the kid. At the police station, the now suspended Lois is brought in by Graham to get an honest confession from Leonard. During the interrogation, the couple is informed that another man has admitted to having committed the murder. Graham wants to continue prosecuting Leonard for breaking into Lois' apartment, but she wants to drop the case and orders him to bring the boy home.

Back home, Lois is about to undress, when suddenly Mr. Bennett jumps out of her closet and starts assaulting her. At the same moment, Leonard, impressed by having been forgiven by his teacher, confesses to Graham that his father is responsible for the murders. Graham decides to share the news with Lois and arrives at her home just in time to save her from being murdered by Mr. Bennett. Bennett suffers a heart attack after attempting to flee the scene, and dies in front of Leonard.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The origin of The Unguarded Moment is as surprising as Esther Williams' casting in it. According to biographer Bernard F. Dick in Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell, the story idea came from writer Larry Marcus and Rosalind Russell, as a possible vehicle for herself. (Marcus had written scripts for Russell's own production company.)[2]

The first draft of the screenplay by Marcus and Russell (under the pseudonym C.A. McKnight, her mother's maiden name) had a working title of Teach Me to Love and was completed by 1951.[1] In a 1951 draft of the story, Harry Graham was a fellow teacher instead of a policeman, and Leonard Bennett was revealed to be responsible for the murders, before being killed.[3]

In 1952, the story, then called The Hidden Heart, was announced to have been purchased by Benagoss Productions, which had made The Green Glove. Herb Meadow had worked on the script and Rudolph Maté was to direct.[4] The story was originally set in France but the setting was changed to California. Possible female stars discussed in the press included Olivia de Havilland, Loretta Young, and Teresa Wright.[5] The movie was not made.

Russell had no time to work on the screenplay, as she became busy with back-to-back Broadway productions, including Wonderful Town, The Girl Rush, and Picnic. As a result, she did not return to the project until 1955, when Marcus and scenarist Meadow had made further revisions to the script under the working titles The Lie and The Hidden Heart.[3]

In October 1955, Universal International announced it had purchased the script, with Gordon Kay to produce.[6] (It was later estimated Russell and Marcus made $50,000 for their work on the film.[7]) In November, Esther Williams signed on to play the lead in the film, by then titled The Gentle Webb (sic).[8]

Casting

[edit]

Actor John Saxon had yet to make a name for himself when the film went into production. He received the co-starring role after several screen tests, and the studio attempted to make him fill the void left by actor James Dean's death.[1] For Esther Williams, the film was her first since her contract ended with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and it proved to be her first non-swimming dramatic role since The Hoodlum Saint (1946).[1] In her autobiography, Williams noted:

I thought it was a curious choice for Universal to offer me the lead in a 'dry' psychological thriller, and I wasn't sure the public would accept me without my glittering crowns and sparkly swimsuits. Nonetheless, Universal offered me $200,000, which was more than I ever made for a single film at MGM in or out of the water .... Later, after we had started shooting, Rosalind Russell came up to me at a party and said, 'I hear you're doing my script.' I looked at her blankly until she explained that she had written it under the pseudonym C. A. McKnight. 'I wrote the part for me, but I got too old.'"[9]

Reception

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The film flopped at the box office.[9] Saxon received warm reviews for his performance as Leonard Bennett.[1] Some reviewers lauded Williams' performance, others lamented her change of milieu.[1] Russell later wrote that Williams was "very good in" the film.[9]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that "the film is a pleasant surprise... the well knit story has suspense and the dialogue is excellent."[10] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "it carries enough suspense to please any but rabid devotees".[11]

The picture has come to be regarded as a B film, despite it originally being as heavily promoted as other studio pictures in the 1950s.[9] According to Turner Classic Movies, Williams "unintentionally accents [her] limitations as a dramatic actress though she still looks gorgeous. [..] While Esther Williams is the top-billed star of The Unguarded Moment, it is Andrews' unexpectedly creepy performance that hijacks the film and imbues it with an underlying mood of malice and menace."[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "The Unguarded Moment: Notes". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
  2. ^ THOMAS F. BRADY (Oct 24, 1950). "KRAMER AND KATZ PLAN MOVIE FIRM: Producer and Theatre Owner Negotiating on Establishment of New Coast Company Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 32.
  3. ^ a b Forever Mama: The Life of Rosalind Russell by Bernard F. Dick. p. 141.
  4. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Jan 17, 1952). "Benagoss to Produce 'Hidden Heart;' Carroll Back for 'Condor's Nest'". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
  5. ^ Schallert, Edwin (June 23, 1952). "Drama: Benagoss Will Produce Feature Here; Noted Ballets in Kelly Film". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
  6. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Oct 14, 1955). "Drama: Saint Husband, Jeffrey Hayden, Pacted; 'Hidden Heart' Unique Purchase". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
  7. ^ A.H. WEILER (Jan 29, 1956). "BY WAY OF: 'Oedipus Rex' to Face camera--Other Items". New York Times. p. 101.
  8. ^ "ESTHER WILLIAMS TAKES A DRY ROLE: Swim Star to Act a Straight Part in Screen Play About a High School Teacher". New York Times. Nov 23, 1955. p. 17.
  9. ^ a b c d e "The Unguarded Moment: Overview Article". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
  10. ^ TINEE, MAE. (Sep 28, 1956). "Miss Williams Star of Sharp Mystery Film: "THE UNGUARDED MOMENT"". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. a10.
  11. ^ Scott, John L. (Oct 4, 1956). "Swim Star Stays Dry in Drama". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
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