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Background to Danger

  • 19431943
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Background to Danger (1943)
A German spy ring plans to publicize a false rumor that Russia, who is fighting Germany, plans to invade neutral Turkey in order to ally them with the Nazis.
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
37 Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
  • War
A German spy ring plans to publicize a false rumor that Russia, who is fighting Germany, plans to invade neutral Turkey in order to ally them with the Nazis.A German spy ring plans to publicize a false rumor that Russia, who is fighting Germany, plans to invade neutral Turkey in order to ally them with the Nazis.A German spy ring plans to publicize a false rumor that Russia, who is fighting Germany, plans to invade neutral Turkey in order to ally them with the Nazis.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Raoul Walsh
  • Writers
    • W.R. Burnett(screen play)
    • Eric Ambler(novel)
    • William Faulkner(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • George Raft
    • Brenda Marshall
    • Sydney Greenstreet
Top credits
  • Director
    • Raoul Walsh
  • Writers
    • W.R. Burnett(screen play)
    • Eric Ambler(novel)
    • William Faulkner(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • George Raft
    • Brenda Marshall
    • Sydney Greenstreet
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Official Trailer

    Photos37

    Sydney Greenstreet and George Raft in Background to Danger (1943)
    Kurt Katch and George Raft in Background to Danger (1943)
    Peter Lorre, Brenda Marshall, and George Raft in Background to Danger (1943)
    Background to Danger (1943)
    Sydney Greenstreet in Background to Danger (1943)
    Sydney Greenstreet and Charles La Torre in Background to Danger (1943)
    John Bleifer in Background to Danger (1943)
    Steven Geray in Background to Danger (1943)
    Charles Irwin in Background to Danger (1943)
    Turhan Bey, William Edmunds, and George Raft in Background to Danger (1943)
    Sylvia Opert in Background to Danger (1943)
    Rafael Alcayde and Fernanda Eliscu in Background to Danger (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Raft
    George Raft
    • Joe Bartonas Joe Barton
    Brenda Marshall
    Brenda Marshall
    • Tamara Zaleshoffas Tamara Zaleshoff
    Sydney Greenstreet
    Sydney Greenstreet
    • Colonel Robinsonas Colonel Robinson
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Nikolai Zaleshoffas Nikolai Zaleshoff
    Osa Massen
    Osa Massen
    • Ana Remzias Ana Remzi
    Turhan Bey
    Turhan Bey
    • Hassanas Hassan
    Willard Robertson
    Willard Robertson
    • McNamaraas McNamara
    Kurt Katch
    Kurt Katch
    • Mailleras Mailler
    Rafael Alcayde
    Rafael Alcayde
    • Turkish Husband on Trainas Turkish Husband on Train
    • (uncredited)
    Nino Bellini
    • Turkish Secretaryas Turkish Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Eumenio Blanco
    Eumenio Blanco
    • Syrian Vendoras Syrian Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    John Bleifer
    • Secretaryas Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Walter Bonn
    • German Officeras German Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Botiller
    Dick Botiller
    • Plane Announceras Plane Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Chan
    • Club Patronas Club Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Chefe
    • Elevator Operatoras Elevator Operator
    • (uncredited)
    Pedro de Cordoba
    Pedro de Cordoba
    • Babaas Baba
    • (uncredited)
    Jean De Briac
    Jean De Briac
    • Levantine Porteras Levantine Porter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Raoul Walsh
    • Writers
      • W.R. Burnett(screen play)
      • Eric Ambler(novel)
      • William Faulkner(uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There was an assassination attempt on German ambassador Franz von Papen as depicted in this film. It occurred on February 24, 1942 and was carried out by the Soviet NKVD. However, in reality, the bomb malfunctioned and killed the would-be assassin - he did not get away by car as shown in this film.
    • Goofs
      When the train is shown leaving Ankara Station for Istanbul (48 minutes in) you see a bit of stock footage showing a (British) Southern Railway class M7 suburban tank engine running somewhere on the South Eastern and Chatham system which runs between London and Kent.
    • Quotes

      Nikolai Zaleshoff: How did you know the gun wasn't loaded?

      Joe Barton: By its weight.

      Nikolai Zaleshoff: There might have been one bullet in it.

      Joe Barton: That's the chance I had to take.

      Nikolai Zaleshoff: YOU had to take?

    • Connections
      Featured in Warner at War (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South), Op.388
      (1880)

      Written by Johann Strauss

      Played on a radio

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Wow...it sure sucks to be Joe Barton!
    Joe Barton (George Raft) is traveling to neutral Turkey during WWII. En route, a woman gives him money to hold...as she says she's being followed. He agrees to help...which is a very bad thing. This is because he then finds himself pulled into the world of spies and intrigue...and German and possibly Russian agents are chasing him all about the country trying to beat him up or even kill him. They think he still has the money and is somehow involved in some plot involving a fake story about the Soviet Army invading Turkey! So, much of the film is spent running about the country dodging one problem after another. It sure does suck to be Joe Barton!

    In some ways, this is like the more famous "Casablanca". It co- stars Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre but it's also set in an exotic city filled with folks of many nationalities and it all centers on an American who finds himself in the middle of everything. But, in other ways, it reminds me a lot of "The Maltese Falcon"--with lots of folks bashing each other over the head, killing each other and no clear indication as to what motivates some of these folks.

    Overall, this is an enjoyable film but one that isn't particularly outstanding. Some of it is because Raft, as usual, was pretty low energy and uninteresting. Some of it is because the film mostly consisted of lots of escapes and a lot of talking. Not bad...but lacking something to make it great.
    helpful•4
    0
    • planktonrules
    • Sep 21, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 3, 1943 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Turkish
      • French
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Komplott i Ankara
    • Filming locations
      • Estressin, Vienne, Isère, France
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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