A fashion model (Rogers) witnesses the brutal assassination of an investigative journalist by the Ku Klux Klan while traveling to a small town to visit her sister (Day).
Ginger Rogers Ronald Reagan Doris Day Steve Cochran Hugh Sanders Lloyd Gough Raymond Greenleaf Ned Glass Paul E. Burns Walter Baldwin Lynn Whitney Stuart Randall Sean McClory Lillian Albertson Janet Barrett George Lloyd John Alban Fred Aldrich Richard Anderson Walter Bacon Fern Barry Paul Brinegar Blondie Bronzell Douglas Carter Leo Cleary Tom Coleman Charles J. Conrad Russell Custer Ned Davenport Show All…
Die Gefangene des Ku-Klux-Klan, La setta dei tre K, Dilema de uma Consciência, Der Gefangene des Ku-Klux-Klan, Aviso de tormenta, 风暴警告
USA
Miami Beach, Florida
USA
USA
The irony of watching Ronald Reagan trying to take down the KKK is not lost on me.
First and foremost, the contemporary criticism of Storm Warning, particularly its formulaic story and its refusal to even mention the anti-Black (and people of color in general) mission that was so central to the Klan, is spot on. Hell, it doesn't mention any of the Klan's beliefs — not nativism, not racism, not antisemitism. Instead, it's all vague statements about keeping the community safe, and concerns about the Klan keeping questionable books, of all things. All of which, obviously, is a cop out of the first order, despite the grand horror of the film's climactic scene.
That said, however, there are a couple of well acted, really memorable characters here, one awful (Steve Cochran's Hank Rice), and one complex and…
"Storm Warning" is a 1951 (or possibly 1950) noir thriller directed by Stuart Heisler. The film stars Ginger Rogers in the leading role as a traveling dress model who decides to check in on her sister (Doris Day) that she hasn't seen for some time. This leads her character of Marsha Mitchell to a southern town. As Mitchell literally gets off of the bus to grab her luggage, the local chapter of the Klu Klux Klan hold a lynch mob and execute someone dug out of the jailhouse right in front of her. Not only is there the conditional scare factor that she is immensely at the wrong place at the wrong time, but this is also a town heavily…
The exact same plot as A Streetcar Named Desire except here Blanche Dubois takes out the Klan. Unfortunately, the casting of Ronald Reagan as an anti-racist classifies this as a work of science-fiction.
There's certainly a sad irony in the Gipper taking on the kkk, seeing as his administration was extremely injurious to Black communities, to say the least, but the film predates his time in office, and taken at face value, presents an absorbing narrative brought to life through strong performances. As with all these Turner Classic types, the music and writing knocked my socks off, too—we just don't do it like this anymore—the latter earning bonus points for taking down those shitbags (forgive me for not being nearly as eloquent as the screenwriters) at every opportunity, e.g. "Without those white hoods to hide in, they're no heroes. That's why they need the hoods in the first place. Put them under fire,…
Classic good vs evil - noir-style. A lot of aspects of Storm Warning (1951) felt ridiculously exaggerated, but it was so visually striking and stinking of filth, I ended up loving it. The way Ginger Rogers was used was near perfect. Her strong screen presence really captured the mood and attitude needed. Ronald Reagan's shabby detecting fit him too, and was a relaxing counter to all the aggression boiling in the little town. That massive climax was truly something. Very gimmicky, but at the same time insane! Wonderful and the right conclusion to something that should have ended with the time it was made. Poor Doris Day, I was not expecting to see her in a role like this, but it only made the experience stronger.
If you've ever wanted to see Ginger Rogers flagellated by members of the Ku Klux Klan in full regalia, then this is the film for you.
A so-so film-noir slightly elevated by the subject matter, but confused in its political message.
Is it a strongly feminist debunking of the KKK? Or is it an allegorical paen to the House Un-American Activities Committee, with Ginger's reticence to speak out against the Klan being equated to the refusal by some to name communist names?
The fact that there is no mention of the Klan's racism makes the latter more likely, as does the participation of Ronald Reagan.
Either way Ginger Rogers gives a fine performance as a strong female lead, and Doris Day did enough to impress Hitchcock and get the 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' gig a few years later.
Ginger Rogers AND Doris Day?!
expectations: dancing, singing, tap dancing, a thunderstorm, some romcom-drama, some more dancing, happiness, smiling
reality: none of those things
Ginger Rogers takes on the Ku Klux Klan and it's .. surprisingly violent. Also, doesn't address racism to no one's surprise.
Didn’t expect this to be as great as it is. I originally just wanted to see the film because of Ronald Reagan, and while he does do a solid job, it is the great Ginger Rogers who gives an incredible performance. I really loved her in this. The film gets quite tense and manages to give a creepy vibe, especially when those crazy white hoods show up.
