Jeopardy Reviews

Based on a radio play by Maurice Zimm, this was expanded to make a tight little thriller by Mel Dinelli that is a good example of how to make a melodrama without wasting one frame of film. Stanwyck is married to Sullivan. Their son is Aaker, and the three are off on a short holiday down the California coast and into Baja, Mexico. They discover a charming but empty fishing village and decide to camp overnight. Aaker is a bold little lad and goes out on a decrepit pier. Sullivan, seeking to rescue him, gets caught in the rotting timbers, and there doesn't seem to be a way for him to get out. This happens at low tide, and Stanwyck realizes that she must get him out before the water rises and drowns Sullivan. Since she has no equipment of any sort, she gets into the family sedan to find help or at least a strong rope to pull Sullivan free. On the road, she meets Meeker, a criminal fleeing Mexican police. He takes over the car and intends using it to escape, but she uses her wiles to convince him that she finds him attractive and just might favor him with her affections if he agrees to help. She hints that she'll accompany him on his flight if he first saves Sullivan. Meeker aids with the rescue and leaves soon after when he sees that Stanwyck and Sullivan are truly a committed couple. Short, tense and effective, JEOPARDY made money for the studio and was a "sleeper" that year that many flocked to see. It's wonderful to realize how much story and emotion can be packed into under 70 minutes when placed in the right hands.