Undertow (1949 film)
Encyclopedia
Undertow is a 1949 thriller film directed by William Castle
, starring Scott Brady
, Peggy Dow, Bruce Bennett
, Dorothy Hart
and John Russell
. It is the story of an ex-con, a former Chicago
mobster, who is accused of the murder of a high ranking Chicago boss. The movie also marks the second film to feature a young actor named Rock Hudson
and the first in which he received a film credit for his work.
), a former Chicago
mobster and ex-con, is vacationing in Reno
at a lodge. He bumps into an old friend/former colleague from Chicago
named Danny Morgan (Jack Russell
). It turns out they are both engaged to be married.
On his way home to Chicago, Reagan shares the flight with a schoolteacher, Ann McKnight (Peggy Dow), someone he met at a Reno
casino
and helped win at the gambling table. Reagan arrives home and is met by the police. It seems that Reagan is a suspect as a potential trouble maker due to his past dispute with a Chicago mob kingpin, Big Jim, his fiancee's uncle.
The police put a tail on him, which he shakes on a Chicago elevated train. Reagan meets up with his bride-to-be, Sally Lee (Dorothy Hart
). He tells her he will go to Big Jim to make peace. But when the uncle is murdered, Reagan is framed for the murder.
On the run from both the police and from the unknown murderers, Reagan enlists the help of McKnight and an old buddy, Charles Recklilng Bruce Bennett, who is a detective. They discover the truth: Morgan is also engaged to Sally Lee, and together they are responsible for murdering her uncle and framing Reagan.
Reagan manages to clear himself, however, after which he and McKnight end up in each other's arms, bound to that lodge in Reno.
William Castle
William Castle was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Castle was known for directing films with many gimmicks which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies....
, starring Scott Brady
Scott Brady
Scott Brady was an American film and television actor.Born as Gerard Kenneth Tierney, he was the younger brother of fellow actor Lawrence Tierney. Brady served in the Navy during World War II, where he was a boxing champ...
, Peggy Dow, Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett was an American actor and Olympic silver medalist shot putter. During the 1930s, he went by his real name, Herman Brix .-Early life and Olympics:...
, Dorothy Hart
Dorothy Hart
Dorothy Hart was an American screen actress, known mostly for her supporting roles.-Background:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she became a model in her late-teens, and was signed by Columbia in 1946. Her contract stipulated "A-movies only". Although considered one of the top supporting actresses of her...
and John Russell
John Russell (actor)
John Lawrence Russell was an American actor, and World War II veteran, most noted for playing Marshal Dan Troop in the successful ABC western television series Lawman from 1958 to 1962....
. It is the story of an ex-con, a former Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
mobster, who is accused of the murder of a high ranking Chicago boss. The movie also marks the second film to feature a young actor named Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson
Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
and the first in which he received a film credit for his work.
Plot
Tony Reagan (Scott BradyScott Brady
Scott Brady was an American film and television actor.Born as Gerard Kenneth Tierney, he was the younger brother of fellow actor Lawrence Tierney. Brady served in the Navy during World War II, where he was a boxing champ...
), a former Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
mobster and ex-con, is vacationing in Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
at a lodge. He bumps into an old friend/former colleague from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
named Danny Morgan (Jack Russell
Jack Russell
Jack Russell is the name of:* Jack Russell , a fictional Marvel Comics character* Jack Russell Terrier, a type of dog- People :* Jack "Russer" Russell , traveler* Jack Russell , American baseball player...
). It turns out they are both engaged to be married.
On his way home to Chicago, Reagan shares the flight with a schoolteacher, Ann McKnight (Peggy Dow), someone he met at a Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and helped win at the gambling table. Reagan arrives home and is met by the police. It seems that Reagan is a suspect as a potential trouble maker due to his past dispute with a Chicago mob kingpin, Big Jim, his fiancee's uncle.
The police put a tail on him, which he shakes on a Chicago elevated train. Reagan meets up with his bride-to-be, Sally Lee (Dorothy Hart
Dorothy Hart
Dorothy Hart was an American screen actress, known mostly for her supporting roles.-Background:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she became a model in her late-teens, and was signed by Columbia in 1946. Her contract stipulated "A-movies only". Although considered one of the top supporting actresses of her...
). He tells her he will go to Big Jim to make peace. But when the uncle is murdered, Reagan is framed for the murder.
On the run from both the police and from the unknown murderers, Reagan enlists the help of McKnight and an old buddy, Charles Recklilng Bruce Bennett, who is a detective. They discover the truth: Morgan is also engaged to Sally Lee, and together they are responsible for murdering her uncle and framing Reagan.
Reagan manages to clear himself, however, after which he and McKnight end up in each other's arms, bound to that lodge in Reno.
Cast
- Scott BradyScott BradyScott Brady was an American film and television actor.Born as Gerard Kenneth Tierney, he was the younger brother of fellow actor Lawrence Tierney. Brady served in the Navy during World War II, where he was a boxing champ...
- Tony Reagan - Peggy Dow - Ann McKnight
- Bruce BennettBruce BennettBruce Bennett was an American actor and Olympic silver medalist shot putter. During the 1930s, he went by his real name, Herman Brix .-Early life and Olympics:...
- Detective Charles Reckling - Dorothy HartDorothy HartDorothy Hart was an American screen actress, known mostly for her supporting roles.-Background:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she became a model in her late-teens, and was signed by Columbia in 1946. Her contract stipulated "A-movies only". Although considered one of the top supporting actresses of her...
- Sally Lee - John RussellJohn Russell (actor)John Lawrence Russell was an American actor, and World War II veteran, most noted for playing Marshal Dan Troop in the successful ABC western television series Lawman from 1958 to 1962....
- Danny Morgan - Dan Ferniel - Gene
- Thomas Browne Henry - Captain Kerrigan
- Charles Sherlock - Detective Cooper
- Gregg Martell - Frost, the short thug
- Robert AndersonRobert Anderson-Arts and entertainment:*Robert Anderson , Scottish literary scholar and editor*Robert Rowand Anderson , Scottish architect*Robert Alexander Anderson , American composer...
- Stoner, the tall thug - Rock HudsonRock HudsonRoy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
- Detective with Detective Reckling