CAUSE FOR ALARM!

CAUSE FOR ALARM (1951). Director: Tay Garnett. 

Although Ellen (Loretta Young ) was sort of keeping company with handsome Dr Ranney Grahame (Bruce Cowling of Song of the Thin Man), she is swept off her feet by army officer and flier George Jones (Barry Sullivan), whom she marries. Years later George is a paranoid who's taken to his bed and is certain that his wife is carrying on with the dreamy doctor, who thinks he should be in a hospital. George writes a letter detailing his unfounded suspicions to the district attorney, and when a tragedy occurs, Ellen has a devil of a time trying to get the letter back from the whining, complaining mailman (Irving Bacon) before it reaches the D.A. -- she is fully aware of how things look. 

Loretta Young gives an outstanding performance in this minor suspense film that never quite gets up to the level of nail-biting tension. It's one of those movies in which someone just assumes someone is dead without checking a pulse or calling an ambulance. The other actors are all on target, with a very effective Sullivan and a stalwart Cowling, and there are nice turns from Margalo Gillmore (of Elopement) and Georgia Backus playing a kindly neighbor and George's aunt (although I confess I'm not certain which is which). Irving Bacon (Ethel's dad on I Love Lucy), Don Haggerty as a business associate of George's, and little Brad Morrow (of Annie Get Your Gun as the little boy, Billy, who lives next door, round out the cast. 

Verdict: Reasonably engaging suspense film bolstered by fine performances. ***.