CAUSE FOR ALARM! (1951)

To Have And To Hold Until Paranoia Do Part

This seventy-four-minute MGM film, directed by Tay Garnett, suffered a six-figure loss at the box office. But then, it did not cost much to make. The screenplay is by Mel Dinelli and Tom Lewis with the film being produced also by Lewis, Loretta Young’s second husband. Young narrates the entire film to retell her frightening day of the week. I found it difficult to ignore her over-the-top performance. Young had some good successes in the Thirties and Forties, winning an Oscar four years before in, The Farmer's Daughter. No nomination this time around. Young seems to be the wrong actress for this paranoid character. Perhaps a “stronger” actress in the mold of Anne Baxter or Patricia Neal might have toned down the hysterics. Neither, of course, was married to the producer. Then again, here, Young is “married” to Barry Sullivan who is also paranoid. 

Sullivan has a limited role as a bedridden patient with a scripted bad heart. He is also a little touched in the head with irrational jealousy, convinced Young and his doctor, his old Navy buddy, dull Hollywood newcomer Bruce Cowling, are having an affair and both plotting to kill him. Sullivan goes so far as to write a detailed letter to the district attorney suggesting so. His plan is to kill her before she gets to him. But before firing a shot, he collapses from a fatal heart attack. Young’s posture and expression, wedged between the door frame and dresser, (lower right image above) are straight out of a Carol Burnett show skit. She is acting so hard it is laughable. 

It is near this point, that the film is cause for alarm as hysterical Young discovers the contents of Sullivan's letter and tries to get it back after giving it to the postman, the always befuddled or opinionated Irving Bacon. A by-the-book postal carrier with the gift of gab and concern about securing his pension. His impeccable performance should allow one to hang on until the end. The exchanges between him and Young are good, though she is obviously rattled to the point of being ridiculous. She pleads with Bacon to give her the letter, but he cannot. It is Sullivan who wrote the letter to the D.A. and he must sign for it. Bacon is more than happy to take it to him. Young bursts that is not possible so he instructs her to pick up the letter at the post office later. In the meantime, angst prevails. As the only good news for Young in the film, Bacon returns to inform her the letter could not be delivered anyway. Insufficient postage. My preferred title for the film. 

Note: There is a brief uncredited appearance by Robert Easton and his pal, Carl Switzer. Both are involved in their personal automotive maintenance program.