Angela Lansbury goes femme fatale while Keith Andes displays some beefcake and cluelessness in this stilted tale of deception and passion that holds no surprises. Telegraphed from end to end the only interest is watching a slim and youthful Jessica Fletcher work her seductive magic on the naive Andes.
Down on his luck, cranky architect Edward Shaw is visited by a shady lawyer who offers him a way out of debt and pay back investors by entering into a building deal with comely Doris Hillman. The deal hinges on a life insurance policy Shaw has to take out to satisfy her husband Gus (Douglas Dumbrille) around security issues. It looks like a set-up but Doris knows how to push his buttons and once signed up she and Gus set the trap.
A LIfe at Stake comes across obvious and rediculous from start to finish, bordering at times on polished parody. The scene where the passionate lovers are making out in the car while haggling over the policy is unintentional high comedy. Lansbury's Doris is blatantly insincere and transparent, Andes blind to the obvious unconvincing and when could anyone trust Douglas Dumbrille in a film to enter into a shady deal like this? Outside of watching Miss Marple cavorting in a bathing suit "Life" has none to little to look at.
Down on his luck, cranky architect Edward Shaw is visited by a shady lawyer who offers him a way out of debt and pay back investors by entering into a building deal with comely Doris Hillman. The deal hinges on a life insurance policy Shaw has to take out to satisfy her husband Gus (Douglas Dumbrille) around security issues. It looks like a set-up but Doris knows how to push his buttons and once signed up she and Gus set the trap.
A LIfe at Stake comes across obvious and rediculous from start to finish, bordering at times on polished parody. The scene where the passionate lovers are making out in the car while haggling over the policy is unintentional high comedy. Lansbury's Doris is blatantly insincere and transparent, Andes blind to the obvious unconvincing and when could anyone trust Douglas Dumbrille in a film to enter into a shady deal like this? Outside of watching Miss Marple cavorting in a bathing suit "Life" has none to little to look at.