A Life at Stake
Encyclopedia
A Life at Stake is a 1954 American film directed by Paul Guilfoyle
.
The film is also known as Key Man.
) is approached by Mrs Doris Hillman (Angela Lansbury
) with a business proposal: buying land together, on which he would build houses that she would then sell, using her experience as a former real estate broker. Her husband, a wealthy businessman, would be willing to contribute half a million dollars as capital for the venture. Mrs Hillman also seems interested in more than a purely professional relationship. Shaw starts an affair with her and accepts the business offer. However, an accidental discovery leaves him convinced that the Hillmans' interest lies less in the long-term profits of the venture than in the $175,000 key man insurance policy he took on himself as a precondition for the deal, and that an attempt on his life is imminent.
Paul Guilfoyle (actor born in 1902)
Paul Guilfoyle was an American stage, film, and television actor...
.
The film is also known as Key Man.
Plot summary
Down on his luck architect and builder Edward Shaw (Keith AndesKeith Andes
Keith Andes was an American film, radio, musical theatre, stage and television actor.-Early life:John Charles Andes was born in Ocean City, New Jersey on July 12, 1920. By the age of 12, he was featured on the radio....
) is approached by Mrs Doris Hillman (Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
) with a business proposal: buying land together, on which he would build houses that she would then sell, using her experience as a former real estate broker. Her husband, a wealthy businessman, would be willing to contribute half a million dollars as capital for the venture. Mrs Hillman also seems interested in more than a purely professional relationship. Shaw starts an affair with her and accepts the business offer. However, an accidental discovery leaves him convinced that the Hillmans' interest lies less in the long-term profits of the venture than in the $175,000 key man insurance policy he took on himself as a precondition for the deal, and that an attempt on his life is imminent.
Cast
- Angela LansburyAngela LansburyAngela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
as Doris Hillman - Keith AndesKeith AndesKeith Andes was an American film, radio, musical theatre, stage and television actor.-Early life:John Charles Andes was born in Ocean City, New Jersey on July 12, 1920. By the age of 12, he was featured on the radio....
as Edward Shaw - Douglass DumbrilleDouglass DumbrilleDouglass Dumbrille was a Canadian actor and one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood.-Life and career:...
as Gus Hillman - Claudia Barrett as Madge Neilan
- Jane Darwell as Landlady
- Gavin GordonGavin Gordon (actor)Gavin Gordon was an American film actor.He was born in Chicora, Mississippi], and died in Canoga Park, California, on his 82nd birthday....
as Sam Pearson - Charles MaxwellCharles MaxwellCharles Carlton Maxwell was an American character actor who worked primarily in television.Maxwell frequently appeared as a guest star in Western shows such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, and The Rifleman, among others. He appeared on Bonanza eight different times as eight different characters...
as Lt. Hoff - William HenryWilliam Henry (actor)William Albert Henry was an American actor working in Hollywood movies. He started as a child actor, then was a hero in B-movies , and ended his career as a character actor. He also appeared in various roles on episodes of many TV series. He was a member of the John Ford Stock Company and...
as Myles Norman - Kathleen Mulqueen as Mary
- Dan Sturkie as Officer Biff
- Jeane Wood as Mabel, the maid
- Robert Haver as Mechanic