REVIEW: ‘A Life at Stake’ starring Angela Lansbury, now available on Blu-ray and DVD
Photo: A Life at Stake stars Keith Andes and Angela Lansbury. Photo courtesy of The Film Detective / Provided by official site.
The Film Detective recently released Blu-ray and DVD special editions of A Life at Stake, a noir mystery starring Angela Lansbury and Keith Andes. Both actors turn in impressive performances, all under the baton of director Paul Guilfoyle.
The new release has some welcome special features for film aficionados. Included amongst the bonuses are an audio commentary by film scholar Jason A. Ney and the original documentary Hollywood Hitch-hikers: Inside the Filmmakers. The film, featuring a new 4K transfer, is also crisp and clear, looking better than ever.
The story encapsulated in A Life at Stake is simple and typical noir. Lansbury plays Doris Hillman, who is kickstarting a real estate deal on behalf of her husband, and she has requested then help of architect Edward Shaw (Andes). Almost immediately, the two have a connection with each other. Love is in the air, but so are dirty dealings and nefarious plots. One can sense that a loaded gun is never too far away from this impossible romance and sordid real estate transaction.
It’s fair to say that A Life at Stake is a solid example of mid-century noir, and Guilfoyle, who directed this film toward the end of his long career, certainly understood how to present the narrative in an interesting and foreboding way. Lansbury is clearly the star of the feature, and she doesn’t disappoint. As a performer, she wasn’t necessarily known for these femme fatale roles, but she is more than up for the part. There’s a simultaneous sincerity and mystery to her portrayal of Doris Hillman; one knows she’s not showing the audience all of her cards.
The picturesque surroundings of Southern California, including the swanky environs of the Hillman estate, are a nice plus to the 78-minute feature, and some of the shots in the film are wonderfully staged and help to heighten the intensity of the murderous plot.
A Life at Stake is a noir worth dusting off and enjoying, almost 70 years after its initial release.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
A Life at Stake (1955). Directed by Paul Guilfoyle. Starring Angela Lansbury and Keith Andes. Running time: 78 minutes. Not Rated. The Film Detective’s Blu-ray and DVD special editions have the following features: audio commentary by film scholar Jason A. Ney, full color insert booklet, Hollywood Hitch-hikers: Inside the Filmmakers documentary and new 4K transfer from archival film elements. Rating: 
