''Dangerous to Know'' is a 1938 American

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combin ...

and starring

Anna May Wong Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain interna ...

Akim Tamiroff Akim Mikhailovich Tamiroff, russian: Аким Михайлович Тамиров (born Hovakim Tamiryants; October 29, 1899 – September 17, 1972) was an Armenian-American actor of film, stage, and television. One of the premier character ac ...

and

Gail Patrick Gail Patrick (born Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick, June 20, 1911 – July 6, 1980) was an American film actress and television producer. Often cast as the bad girl or the other woman, she appeared in more than 60 feature films between 1932 an ...

. The movie was directed by Robert Florey. Bosley Crowther of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' called the film a "second-rate melodrama, hardly worthy of the talents of its generally capable cast." Crowther, Bosley. ''Dangerous to Know'' (film review). ''

'', March 11, 1939. It is based on British crime writer Edgar Wallace's hit 1930 play '' On the Spot'' which had been inspired by the career of Al Capone.

Plot

Racketeer Steve Recka, art patron and political power-maker, rules his town Madame Lan Ying, his beautiful Oriental friend and hostess with an iron hand. He meets Margaret van Kase, a socialite not impressed by his power nor his wealth, having no money herself.

Cast

as Madame Lan Ying *

as Stephen Recka *

as Margaret Van Case * Lloyd Nolan as Inspector Brandon * Harvey Stephens as Phillip Easton * Anthony Quinn as Nicky Kusnoff * Roscoe Karns as Duncan * Porter Hall as Mayor Bradley * Barlowe Borland as Butler * Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Carson * Hugh Sothern as Harvey Gregson * Edward Pawley as John Rance * Eddie Marr as Crouch *

Harry Worth Harry Bourlon Illingsworth (20 November 1917 – 20 July 1989), professionally known as Harry Worth, was an English comedy actor, comedian and ventriloquist. Worth portrayed a charming, gentle and genial character, totally bemused by life, ...

as Hanley * Robert Brister as Councilman Murkil *

Pierre Watkin Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the ...

as Senator Carson

References

External links

* * * 1938 films 1930s English-language films 1938 crime films American mystery films Paramount Pictures films Films based on works by Edgar Wallace Films directed by Robert Florey American black-and-white films American crime films 1938 mystery films Melodrama films 1930s American films {{1930s-crime-film-stub