In "This Woman Is Dangerous", the female leader of a criminal gang finds that her life changes dramatically when she experiences problems with her eyesight and has to have a risky operation in order to avoid the prospect of going blind. Violence, romance and the need to be economical with the truth, all play their parts in the melodramatic events that follow as this tough woman has to come to terms with situations which make her feel uncomfortably vulnerable.
Beth Austin (Joan Crawford) masterminds a successful casino robbery in New Orleans in which her gang members pose as police officers who are raiding the premises and immediately after, has to go to Indianapolis for emergency surgery to save her eyesight. She leaves behind her extremely jealous lover Matt Jackson (David Brian) and tells him to keep a low profile until she returns. After undergoing surgery, Beth and her surgeon, Dr Ben Halleck (Dennis Morgan) fall in love and this creates some difficulties as Beth doesn't want Ben to know about her shady past and also knows that if she's totally open about her feelings, she'll effectively be putting his life in danger.
Predictably, the fiercely violent Matt is unable to keep out of trouble and after an argument with his equally volatile brother and fellow gang member Will (Philip Carey), provokes an incident which culminates in him shooting a state trooper. When Beth's absence is extended longer than originally planned because she needs to stay in Indianapolis for tests after her operation, Matt gets increasingly impatient and hires a private detective to find out what's going on.
Beth then has to steer a complicated course as she feels some loyalty to Matt but also has strong feelings for Ben. The fact that there's also an FBI agent and Matt's private detective monitoring her actions poses additional threats and inevitably, it isn't long before matters are brought to an extremely violent conclusion.
There's a great deal of tough talking and some sudden outbursts of violence in the scenes where members of the gang are involved and this contrasts dramatically with the scenes in which Ben is present. He represents a different and more civilised lifestyle to that which Beth had been used to in the past.
Joan Crawford's performance varies from subtle to over-the-top but overall, she perfectly meets the demands of her role which is the main focus of the whole story. David Brian makes a strong impression as the hot-headed Matt and Philip Carey provides good support as the not-very-bright Will, who likes to stir up arguments and get into fights.
"This Woman Is Dangerous" comprises an unusual mixture of violence and romance as well as toughness and vulnerability in a crime drama that features some marvellous cinematography by Ted McCord.
Beth Austin (Joan Crawford) masterminds a successful casino robbery in New Orleans in which her gang members pose as police officers who are raiding the premises and immediately after, has to go to Indianapolis for emergency surgery to save her eyesight. She leaves behind her extremely jealous lover Matt Jackson (David Brian) and tells him to keep a low profile until she returns. After undergoing surgery, Beth and her surgeon, Dr Ben Halleck (Dennis Morgan) fall in love and this creates some difficulties as Beth doesn't want Ben to know about her shady past and also knows that if she's totally open about her feelings, she'll effectively be putting his life in danger.
Predictably, the fiercely violent Matt is unable to keep out of trouble and after an argument with his equally volatile brother and fellow gang member Will (Philip Carey), provokes an incident which culminates in him shooting a state trooper. When Beth's absence is extended longer than originally planned because she needs to stay in Indianapolis for tests after her operation, Matt gets increasingly impatient and hires a private detective to find out what's going on.
Beth then has to steer a complicated course as she feels some loyalty to Matt but also has strong feelings for Ben. The fact that there's also an FBI agent and Matt's private detective monitoring her actions poses additional threats and inevitably, it isn't long before matters are brought to an extremely violent conclusion.
There's a great deal of tough talking and some sudden outbursts of violence in the scenes where members of the gang are involved and this contrasts dramatically with the scenes in which Ben is present. He represents a different and more civilised lifestyle to that which Beth had been used to in the past.
Joan Crawford's performance varies from subtle to over-the-top but overall, she perfectly meets the demands of her role which is the main focus of the whole story. David Brian makes a strong impression as the hot-headed Matt and Philip Carey provides good support as the not-very-bright Will, who likes to stir up arguments and get into fights.
"This Woman Is Dangerous" comprises an unusual mixture of violence and romance as well as toughness and vulnerability in a crime drama that features some marvellous cinematography by Ted McCord.