# Dangerous to Know > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dangerous_to_Know > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dangerous_to_Know.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_to_Know > Source revision: 1339448892 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1938 film by Robert Florey Dangerous to Know Directed by Robert Florey Screenplay by William R. Lipman Horace McCoy Based on On the Spot by Edgar Wallace Starring Anna May Wong Akim Tamiroff Gail Patrick Cinematography Theodor Sparkuhl Edited by Arthur P. Schmidt Color process Black and white Production company Paramount Pictures Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release dates March 9, 1938 (1938-03-09) (Los Angeles) March 10, 1938 (1938-03-10) (New York)[1] Running time 70 minutes Country United States Language English ***Dangerous to Know*** is a 1938 American [crime film](/source/Crime_film) directed by [Robert Florey](/source/Robert_Florey) and starring [Anna May Wong](/source/Anna_May_Wong), [Akim Tamiroff](/source/Akim_Tamiroff) and [Gail Patrick](/source/Gail_Patrick). The screenplay is based on British crime writer [Edgar Wallace](/source/Edgar_Wallace)'s hit 1930 play *[On the Spot](/source/On_the_Spot_(play)),* which had been inspired by the career of [Al Capone](/source/Al_Capone). Wong reprised her stage role from the New York production in the film.[2] The supporting cast features [Lloyd Nolan](/source/Lloyd_Nolan) and [Anthony Quinn](/source/Anthony_Quinn). ## Plot Former bootlegger Stephen Recka is a powerful figure in city politics and business circles, with the mayor and bank in his pocket, and he aspires to climb socially. Recka discovers that a city councilor who wants to become mayor has planted spy John Rance in his office. Recka's birthday party is organized by his hostess Madame Lan Ying, with attendees who want a share in his citywide power. Margaret van Case, a member of a prominent family, arrives and Recka charms her, displeasing Lan Ying. Recka visits Rance's apartment, forces him to write a suicide note and causes him to falls to his death from the window. Police inspector Brandon pursues Recka for eight murders, but with no evidence to convict him. Recka orders the mayor to change the city's development plans to avoid the district around Margaret's house as part of his plan to ingratiate himself with her. After Recka learns that Margaret's boyfriend Phil Easton is a bond salesman, and he buys $20,000 of bonds from him and gradually sends him business to win his trust. Recka pursues Margaret, but Lan Ying warns him that she is out of his league. Recka's hoods steal $218,000 in bonds from Phil at gunpoint and kidnap him so that it appears that he has stolen them. The police Phil drunk and with the bonds missing. Margaret realizes that Phil has been framed, and Recka tells her that he will clear Phil only if she marries him, opening the doors of respectable society for him. She agrees but vows eternal contempt for Recka, and Phil is freed on bail. Recka's hoods double-cross him and take the bonds, but they are arrested by the police for speeding. Recka realizes that Phil could identify them and therefore must be silenced. He buys plane tickets for Margaret to fly away with him, but when he finds that the bonds have been switched for newspaper, he knows that Inspector Brandon must have them. Lan Ying understands Recka's plans and that he intends to kill Phil, but his henchman is arrested before he can complete the hit. She also knows about the plane tickets and warns Recka that she will not be waiting if he returns. She bids an emotional farewell to Recka, playing a record of "[Thanks for the Memory](/source/Thanks_for_the_Memory)". Confused and lonely, he admits that she is a real friend and the only person whom he can trust. As Recka plays the organ, Lan Ying approaches him from behind with a knife but then plunges the knife into herself. Brandon catches Recka holding the bloody knife over Lan Ying's body and arrests Recka, knowing that he did not kill Lan Ying but intending that Recka will be convicted for the murder nonetheless and pay the price for all of the crimes for which he was never tried. Margaret and Phil fly to their honeymoon using the plane tickets. ## Cast - [Anna May Wong](/source/Anna_May_Wong) as Madame Lan Ying - [Akim Tamiroff](/source/Akim_Tamiroff) as Stephen Recka - [Gail Patrick](/source/Gail_Patrick) as Margaret van Case - [Lloyd Nolan](/source/Lloyd_Nolan) as Inspector Brandon - [Harvey Stephens](/source/Harvey_Stephens) as Phillip Easton - [Anthony Quinn](/source/Anthony_Quinn) as Nicky Kusnoff - [Roscoe Karns](/source/Roscoe_Karns) as Duncan - [Porter Hall](/source/Porter_Hall) as Mayor Bradley - Barlowe Borland as Butler - [Hedda Hopper](/source/Hedda_Hopper) as Mrs. Carson - Hugh Sothern as Harvey Gregson - [Edward Pawley](/source/Edward_Pawley) as John Rance - Eddie Marr as Crouch - [Harry Worth](/source/Harry_Worth_(actor%2C_born_1903)) as Hanley - Robert Brister as Councilman Murkil - [Pierre Watkin](/source/Pierre_Watkin) as Senator Carson ## Reception In a contemporary review for *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, critic [Bosley Crowther](/source/Bosley_Crowther) called the film a "second-rate melodrama, hardly worthy of the talents of its generally capable cast."[1] Reviewer Mae Tinée of the *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)* wrote: "The story? A melodramatic one. Better than some of its class, not so good as others. But engrossing screen fare because of the acting. ... If you like stories about racketeers 'Dangerous to Know' is a film to jot down on that movie shopping list."[3] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nytreview_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nytreview_1-1) Crowther, Bosley (March 11, 1938). "The Screen in Review". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. p. 15. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Dangerous to Know"](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/870-DANGEROUS-TOKNOW). *AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The First 100 Years 1893–1993*. American Film Institute. Retrieved July 19, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Tinée, Mae (May 26, 1938). "'Dangerous to Know' Notable for Its Acting". *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. p. 17. ## External links - [*Dangerous to Know*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030039/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Dangerous to Know*](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/870) at the *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films)* - [*Dangerous to Know*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/72236/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived) v t e Films directed by Robert Florey One Hour of Love (1927) The Romantic Age (1927) Face Value (1927) The Life and Death of 9413: a Hollywood Extra (1928) The Hole in the Wall (1929) The Cocoanuts (1929) The Battle of Paris (1929) Skyscraper Symphony (1929) The Road Is Fine (1930) My Wife's Teacher (1930) Love Songs (1930) Black and White (1931) Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) The Man Called Back (1932) Those We Love (1932) Girl Missing (1933) Ex-Lady (1933) The House on 56th Street (1933) Bedside (1934) Registered Nurse (1934) Smarty (1934) I Sell Anything (1934) I Am a Thief (1934) The Woman in Red (1935) The Florentine Dagger (1935) Going Highbrow (1935) Don't Bet on Blondes (1935) Ship Cafe (1935) The Payoff (1935) The Preview Murder Mystery (1936) Till We Meet Again (1936) Hollywood Boulevard (1936) Outcast (1937) King of Gamblers (1937) Mountain Music (1937) This Way Please (1937) Daughter of Shanghai (1937) Dangerous to Know (1938) King of Alcatraz (1938) Disbarred (1939) Hotel Imperial (1939) The Magnificent Fraud (1939) Death of a Champion (1939) Parole Fixer (1940) Women Without Names (1940) The Face Behind the Mask (1941) Meet Boston Blackie (1941) Two in a Taxi (1941) Dangerously They Live (1941) Lady Gangster (1942) The Desert Song (1943) Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944) Man from Frisco (1944) God Is My Co-Pilot (1945) Danger Signal (1945) The Beast with Five Fingers (1946) Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948) Rogues' Regiment (1948) Outpost in Morocco (1949) The Crooked Way (1949) The Vicious Years (1950) Johnny One-Eye (1950) Adventures of Captain Fabian (1951) v t e Edgar Wallace Novels The Four Just Men (1905) Angel Esquire (1908) The Council of Justice (1908) Captain Tatham (1909) The Duke in the Suburbs (1909) The Nine Bears (1910) Private Selby (1912) The Fourth Plague (1913) Grey Timothy (1913) The River of Stars (1913) The Man Who Bought London (1915) The Melody of Death (1915) A Debt Discharged (1916) The Tomb of Ts'in (1916) The Just Men of Cordova (1917) The Secret House (1917) The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1918) Down Under Donovan (1918) The Man Who Knew (1918) Those Folk of Bulboro (1918) The Green Rust (1919) Kate Plus Ten (1919) The Daffodil Mystery (1920) Jack O'Judgment (1920) The Book of All Power (1921) The Law of the Four Just Men (1921) The Angel of Terror (1922) The Crimson Circle (1922) The Flying Fifty-Five (1922) Mr. Justice Maxell (1922) The Valley of Ghosts (1922) The Clue of the New Pin (1923) The Green Archer (1923) The Missing Million (1923) The Dark Eyes of London (1924) Double Dan (1924) The Face in the Night (1924) Room 13 (1924) The Sinister Man (1924) The Three Oak Mystery (1924) Blue Hand (1925) The Fellowship of the Frog (1925) The Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder (1925) The Strange Countess (1925) The Three Just Men (1925) The Avenger (1926) Barbara on Her Own (1926) The Black Abbot (1926) The Northing Tramp (1926) The Terrible People (1926) The Yellow Snake (1926) The Big Foot (1927) Terror Keep (1927) The Traitor's Gate (1927) The Squeaker (1927) The Forger (1927) Again the Three (1928) The Gunner (1928) Four Square Jane (1929) The Green Ribbon (1929) The India-Rubber Men (1929) The Calendar (1930) The Clue of the Silver Key (1930) The Lady of Ascot (1930) The Man at the Carlton (1931) The Guv'nor and Other Short Stories (1932) Plays An African Millionaire (1904) M'Lady (1921) Double Dan (1927) The Terror (1927) The Man Who Changed His Name (1928) The Calendar (1929) Persons Unknown (1929) On the Spot (1930) The Mouthpiece (1930) Smoky Cell (1930) The Old Man (1931) Screenplays The Valley of Ghosts (1928) The Hound of the Baskervilles (1932) King Kong (1933) Adaptations J. G. Reeder Mr. Reeder in Room 13 (1938) The Mind of Mr. Reeder (1939) The Missing People (1940) The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969, TV series) The Four Just Men The Four Just Men (1921) The Four Just Men (1939) The Four Just Men (1959, TV series) Edgar Wallace Mysteries Urge to Kill (1960) Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960) The Malpas Mystery (1960) Marriage of Convenience (1960) The Clue of the New Pin (1961) Man at the Carlton Tower (1961) The Fourth Square (1961) Man Detained (1961) Attempt to Kill (1961) Clue of the Silver Key (1961) Never Back Losers (1961) Partners in Crime (1961) The Sinister Man (1961) Time to Remember (1962) Playback (1962) Solo for Sparrow (1962) Locker Sixty-Nine (1962) Incident at Midnight (1963) Return to Sender (1963) Ricochet (1963) Accidental Death (1963) Five to One (1963) The Verdict (1964) We Shall See (1964) Act of Murder (1964) Change Partners (1965) Rialto Films Der Frosch mit der Maske (1959) The Crimson Circle (1960) The Avenger (1960) The Terrible People (1960) The Green Archer (1961) The Dead Eyes of London (1961) The Devil's Daffodil (1961) The Forger of London (1961) The Strange Countess (1961) The Puzzle of the Red Orchid (1962) The Door with Seven Locks (1962) The Inn on the River (1962) The Curse of the Yellow Snake (1963) The Squeaker (1963) The Black Abbot (1963) The Indian Scarf (1963) Room 13 (1964) The Curse of the Hidden Vault (1964) Der Hexer (1964) The Traitor's Gate (1964) Neues vom Hexer (1965) The Sinister Monk (1965) The Hunchback of Soho (1966) The Trygon Factor (1966) Creature with the Blue Hand (1967) The College Girl Murders (1967) The Hound of Blackwood Castle (1968) Im Banne des Unheimlichen (1968) The Gorilla of Soho (1968) Double Face (1969) The Man with the Glass Eye (1969) The Body in the Thames (1971) Other The Man Who Bought London (1916) The Green Terror (1919) Pallard the Punter (1919) Angel Esquire (1919) Wanted at Headquarters (1920) The River of Stars (1921) The Crimson Circle (1922) Down Under Donovan (1922) Melody of Death (1922) The Diamond Man (1924) The Flying Fifty-Five (1924) The Green Archer (1925 serial) The Great Unknown (1927) The Terror (1928) Mark of the Frog (1928 serial) Chick (1928) The Forger (1928) The Terrible People (1928 serial) The Ringer (1928) The Man Who Changed His Name (1928) The Flying Squad (1929) The Crimson Circle (1929) The Clue of the New Pin (1929) Red Aces (1930) The Squeaker (1930) The Yellow Mask (1930) The Ringer (1931) To Oblige a Lady (1931) The Calendar (1931) The Old Man (1931) The Squeaker (1931) The Flying Squad (1932) The Frightened Lady (1932) The Ringer (1932) The Menace (1932) White Face (1932) Giallo (1933) The Jewel (1933) Before Dawn (1933) The Double (1934) Mystery Liner (1934) The Green Pack (1934) The Feathered Serpent (1934) The Lad (1935) Sanders of the River (1935) Born to Gamble (1935) Chick (1936) Educated Evans (1936) The Crimson Circle (1936) Prison Breaker (1936) Strangers on Honeymoon (1936) The Frog (1937) The Squeaker (1937) The Gaunt Stranger (1938) Dangerous to Know (1938) Kate Plus Ten (1938) Thank Evans (1938) The Terror (1938) The Return of the Frog (1938) Flying Fifty-Five (1939) The Dark Eyes of London (1939) The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940) The Door with Seven Locks (1940) The Flying Squad (1940) The Green Archer (1940 serial) The Missing Million (1942) The Calendar (1948) The Ringer (1952) The Avenger (1960) Death Drums Along the River (1963) Coast of Skeletons (1964) Circus of Fear (1966) Five Golden Dragons (1967) The Devil Came from Akasava (1970) The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971) What Have You Done to Solange? (1972) Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (1972) Television Educated Evans (1957–58) Parodies and pastiches Der Wixxer (2004) Family Mary Jane Richards (mother) Marriott Edgar (half-brother) Bryan Edgar Wallace (son) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dangerous to Know](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_to_Know) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_to_Know?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.