When artist Frank Johnson innocently witnesses a murder, he hides out of fear that the murderer will try to kill him, too.
Actually filmed on the spot in a 1950 San Francisco against fascinating locations at Playland on the Beach (which provides a great backdrop for the stomach-churning noirish climax), Chinatown and Telegraph Hill, Woman on the Run is an outstanding film noir which not only presents more than one startling plot surprise during the course of its short running time but a gallery of realistically bizarre characters, not the least of which is the unwilling-to-get-involved witness (a hunch that turns out to be absolutely spot on) and his equally hesitant, off-beat, half-estranged wife, brilliantly portrayed by Ann Sheridan. Co-stars O'Keefe and Keith also contribute gripping performances.
In all, Woman on the Run shapes up as one of Norman Foster's best films (yet it's not even mentioned in the Fox documentary on his life and career included in The Mysterious Mr Moto DVD). The climax is worthy of Orson Welles. My only quarrels with Run are that the actual denouement is staged off-camera, and that you really have to view the movie twice to take in all the clever dialogue and deft scenic effects.
Actually filmed on the spot in a 1950 San Francisco against fascinating locations at Playland on the Beach (which provides a great backdrop for the stomach-churning noirish climax), Chinatown and Telegraph Hill, Woman on the Run is an outstanding film noir which not only presents more than one startling plot surprise during the course of its short running time but a gallery of realistically bizarre characters, not the least of which is the unwilling-to-get-involved witness (a hunch that turns out to be absolutely spot on) and his equally hesitant, off-beat, half-estranged wife, brilliantly portrayed by Ann Sheridan. Co-stars O'Keefe and Keith also contribute gripping performances.
In all, Woman on the Run shapes up as one of Norman Foster's best films (yet it's not even mentioned in the Fox documentary on his life and career included in The Mysterious Mr Moto DVD). The climax is worthy of Orson Welles. My only quarrels with Run are that the actual denouement is staged off-camera, and that you really have to view the movie twice to take in all the clever dialogue and deft scenic effects.