| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Ann Sheridan | ... |
Eleanor Johnson
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| Dennis O'Keefe | ... |
Dan Legget
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| Robert Keith | ... |
Inspector Ferris
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| John Qualen | ... |
Maibus
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| Frank Jenks | ... |
Detective Shaw
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| Ross Elliott | ... |
Frank Johnson
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Jane Liddell | ... |
Messenger Girl
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| Joan Shawlee | ... |
Blonde
(as Joan Fulton)
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| J. Farrell MacDonald | ... |
Sea Captain
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| Steven Geray | ... |
Dr. Hohler
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| Victor Sen Yung | ... |
Sam
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| Reiko Sato | ... |
Suzie
(as Rako Sato)
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| Syd Saylor | ... |
Sullivan
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Tom Dillon | ... |
Joe Gordon
(as Thomas P. Dillon)
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Frank Johnson (Ross Elliott), sole witness to a gangland murder, goes into hiding and is trailed by Police Inspector Ferris (Robert Keith), on the theory that Frank is trying to escape from possible retaliation. Frank's wife, Eleanor (Ann Sheridan), suspects he is actually running away from their unsuccessful marriage. Aided by a newspaperman, Danny Leggett (Dennis O'Keefe), Eleanor sets out to locate her husband. The killer is also looking for him, and keeps close tabs on Eleanor. Written by Les Adams <[email protected]>
Woman on the Run has some wonderful scenes. Ann Sheridan plays a disenchanted wife whose husband was a witness to a gangland killing (while walking his little dog). Realising that he is in great danger the man goes into hiding (without the dog). Right from the beginning the noirish drama is mixed with hilarious humor. The police officers who come to the Sheridan character's house after the incident are cheeky and mean to the extreme. The woman who for some reason is treated like a suspect even has to open all her kitchen cupboards (I won't tell you what's in it, it's very telling and absolutely funny). Many aspects of the script do not stand up to logic. But, well, it is "only a movie" and therefore it does not matter at all quite on the contrary in fact.
Alfred Hitchcock must have run this one in his screening room more than once. The finale in a funfair has a strong resemblance with the one in his Strangers on a Train, released one year later. It has an astonishingly well done nightly rollercoaster scene. Furthermore there is some very good location shooting on the streets of San Francisco. I can highly recommend this well fotographed and directed movie with good performances, especially by Ann Sheridan.