Serious Question: Is there such a thing as a domestic film noir?
And: Can a film noir take place in the bright California sunshine?
Here’s our query: In the 1951 “B” movie, Cause for Alarm! (exclamation point included), there are many noir-ish elements, such as a situation that quickly Spirals out of control, a reluctance to call law enforcement, and the use of flashbacks and narration.
Now, scenes in film noir often take place at night, but there’s more than physical darkness afoot. There’s also a darkness of purpose, and the darkness in a person’s soul.
Besides, setting a noir in a sunny L.A. neighbourhood gives it a surreal, This-Can’t-Be-Happening feel.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
In Cause for Alarm!, Loretta Young stars as an exhausted woman caring for her ailing husband (Barry Sulivan). She’s given up her entire life for this man, who’s become an unstable psychopath. He’s jealous, he doesn’t like neighbours coming to the house, and he demands an exact itinerary of Young’s day.
Worse still, he suspects Young of having an affair with his doctor, and believes they are Plotting to murder him. He writes a rambling letter to the Los Angeles District Attorney outlining this alleged plot, a letter he cruelly asks Young to mail.
Sullivan tells her the contents of the letter after she gives it to the postman, and says he’ll kill her and make it look like self defense.
“[Murder is] in your mind,” he snarls. “That’s why you feel so guilty, isn’t it?”
It’s a charge she doesn’t deny. However, the exertion of threatening to kill her causes a fatal heart attack, and he collapses.
Barry Sullivan shares his murderous feelings. Image: Heart of Noir
The movie unfolds in more-or-less real time, and there are several Hitchcockian touches, such as a chatty relative who won’t leave, and a nosy neighbour who openly studies Young with suspicion.
And Young does act suspiciously. Look at the choices her character makes immediately following her husband’s death:
She doesn’t check Sullivan’s body to see if he still has a pulse.
She doesn’t call police or the doctor.
She says nothing to the pharmacist who phones about her husband’s prescription.
She leaves the house to intercept the letter while her husband’s body remains upstairs.
We don’t judge her for these decisions, because (A) she’s Loretta Young, and (B) she’s fighting for her life. Things would be very Bleak indeed, if a certain letter were to land in the Attorney General’s In-Box.
What’s implied, but never stated, in true noir fashion, is that the police cannot be trusted to get to the Truth of the Matter. Young must sort this out herself.
A terrifying realization. Image: FilmBooster
Cause for Alarm! has the feel of an early Made-for-TV movie, and it’s surprising this thrifty, urgently-punctuated film came from MGM studios. Even the title suggests a Poverty Row production.
It seems the film served as a template for Young’s later, and popular, long-running anthology series, The Loretta Young Show (1953-1961). This television series opened each week with introductory comments from Young, who grandly sweeps through a door onto the set, wearing the most beautiful clothes imaginable.
Young, born in 1913, was an Oscar-winning actress who began appearing in movies as a toddler, but her career didn’t really gain traction until WWII. The holiday favourite, The Bishop’s Wife (1947), is one of her best-remembered films.
By the early 1950s, however, her film career was starting to wane, but she found new life on television.
Even though it’s now in the public domain – and looks it – Cause for Alarm! is still a brisk, riveting movie that showcases Loretta Young’s tremendous talent.
Have you seen this film? What do you think? Would you call it a “domestic” film noir?
This is a contribution to THE 2nd ANNUAL FAVORITE STARS IN B MOVIES Blogathon, hosted by Films From Beyond
Cause for Alarm! starring Loretta Young, Barry Sullivan, Bruce Cowling. Directed by Tay Garnett. Written by Mel Dinelli & Tom Lewis. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1951, B&W, 74 mins.
This sounds like a great one 🙂 Speaking of low-budget noirs, do you remember a noir directed by Phil Karlson entitled The Phenix City Story? It is not similar to Cause for Alarm!, but I guarantee you that it is a great one If you have not seen it 🙂
Cause for Alarm! is a curious and intriguing little film for its time. Quite bold in many ways in melding its noir and Hitchcock elements. A great little movie!
Thanks so much for contributing to the blogathon Ruth! I saw this several years ago and was impressed by how much suspense could be generated by the inner workings of the post office. 😅
great review, Ruth! I stumbled across cause for alarm a couple of years ago on prime video and seriously enjoyed it! It kept me on the edge of my seat and really impressed me! You’re right though, it does feel like a made for TV movie, but it would be one of the good ones! Also, thank you for the Loretta Young history lesson! I confess I don’t know much about this actress and now I’m curious about her television series. I didn’t realize it was an anthology series. I assumed it was a sitcom like the Donna Reed show. Very curious, indeed!
It’s an unexpectedly good film, isn’t it? Tons of suspense, right?
Yes, the anthology series is a terrific idea, and some of the episodes were based on true stories. I’ve been watching a bit on YouTube & have become a fan!
I’m still woefully behind on my noir watching (I recently purchased two collections of old Hammer Films noirs so I’m at least headed in the right direction), but this sounds interesting. On to the list it goes, Thanks for the info!
I know what it’s like to fall behind in something. (Exhibit A: this delayed response to your comment.) The old Hammer noirs you purchased sound wonderful! I’m putting those on my List.
Never heard of this film, but it looks like a case of less is more. It seems like the simple intimacy of this situation focuses our identification strongly on Loretta Young’s character. I will have keep a look out for this “domestic film noir.”
Hi there, I am so glad you posted this, because it made me look it up and rewatch it. I probably saw it a decade ago. I had looked at it so much differently when I saw it the first time, and missed a few things. I never even considered that she was really trying to kill him. Wow.
It’s easy to be sympathetic to Loretta Young’s character, isn’t it? After all, she’s saddled with an unstable husband. But if a person looks at the things she chooses not to do at a critical moment, it puts things in a different light, hey?I’m glad you had the chance to see it again.
So true! I was almost ashamed I had missed them. Hubby agreed with you word for word 🙂
I used to think I would be a good detective. I have an eye for interesting details, but I have experiences in my life that surely leave me swayed to be sympathetic and it fools me sometimes
Silver Screenings 
Love the use of the exclamation mark but with her behaviour more like a question mark..
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Ha! True! It’s not every day you see a movie with an exclamation mark, right?
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Funnily enough I have just written up a review on one…
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Looking forward to reading it. 🙂
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Got a few more posts before that so keep your eyes peeled…
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Wow, Ruth, I am so curious as to how this plot unfolds! Thank you for the introduction to Cause for Alarm! through your exciting review.
Also, I nominated you for a Sunshine Award, congrats! 🙂 Here is the link to my post if you’d like to check it out:
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Awesome! Thanks so much for the nomiation.
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Update: Watched Cause for Alarm with the hubby and we both enjoyed it a lot! Thanks again, Ruth 🙂
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So glad you enjoyed it. Loretta Young hits all the right notes, doesn’t she?
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A great movie for me 🙂
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Definitely! I thought of you while working on this post.
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A nice compliment…thanks!
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This sounds like a great one 🙂 Speaking of low-budget noirs, do you remember a noir directed by Phil Karlson entitled The Phenix City Story? It is not similar to Cause for Alarm!, but I guarantee you that it is a great one If you have not seen it 🙂
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Haven’t seen The Phenix City Story, but looks like a terrific cast. I’ll look for this one – thanks for recommending!
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Please do whenever you get the chance 🙂
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Cause for Alarm! is a curious and intriguing little film for its time. Quite bold in many ways in melding its noir and Hitchcock elements. A great little movie!
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It is a great little movie, as you say. I hadn’t heard of it until a few weeks ago, and am sure glad I ran into it!
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Thanks so much for contributing to the blogathon Ruth! I saw this several years ago and was impressed by how much suspense could be generated by the inner workings of the post office. 😅
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Ha! That is a perfect description of this movie.
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You know, it’s the first time I hear about this film but somehow I feel it will totally be in my tastes! Thanks for the great review, Ruth!
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It’s an unexpected treat. Loretta Young is sooo good in it.
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I’m putting in my letterboxd watchlist!
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Enjoy!
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He dies of a heart attack after threatening to kill her? Talk about karma!
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Sure is! It sounds a bit cheesy on paper, but it’s well done in the movie.
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Oh I didn’t think it sounded cheesy—it sounds intriguing!
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great review, Ruth! I stumbled across cause for alarm a couple of years ago on prime video and seriously enjoyed it! It kept me on the edge of my seat and really impressed me! You’re right though, it does feel like a made for TV movie, but it would be one of the good ones! Also, thank you for the Loretta Young history lesson! I confess I don’t know much about this actress and now I’m curious about her television series. I didn’t realize it was an anthology series. I assumed it was a sitcom like the Donna Reed show. Very curious, indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s an unexpectedly good film, isn’t it? Tons of suspense, right?
Yes, the anthology series is a terrific idea, and some of the episodes were based on true stories. I’ve been watching a bit on YouTube & have become a fan!
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Not a film I’ve heard of but sounds intriguing all the same. 🙂
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It is intriguing – and so tense!
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I’m still woefully behind on my noir watching (I recently purchased two collections of old Hammer Films noirs so I’m at least headed in the right direction), but this sounds interesting. On to the list it goes, Thanks for the info!
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I know what it’s like to fall behind in something. (Exhibit A: this delayed response to your comment.) The old Hammer noirs you purchased sound wonderful! I’m putting those on my List.
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Never heard of this film, but it looks like a case of less is more. It seems like the simple intimacy of this situation focuses our identification strongly on Loretta Young’s character. I will have keep a look out for this “domestic film noir.”
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Yes, perfectly said. Less is definitely more here, adding to the claustrophobia of the situation. Hope you get the chance to see it!
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This reminds me a little bit of “Cry Danger,”–a film noir in broad daylight. Only this looks like the better movie.
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Wait. I’ve never heard of Cry Danger. Must put on my list, even if it’s not a stellar movie.
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Hi there, I am so glad you posted this, because it made me look it up and rewatch it. I probably saw it a decade ago. I had looked at it so much differently when I saw it the first time, and missed a few things. I never even considered that she was really trying to kill him. Wow.
Yes, a domestic noir, that’s the truth
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It’s easy to be sympathetic to Loretta Young’s character, isn’t it? After all, she’s saddled with an unstable husband. But if a person looks at the things she chooses not to do at a critical moment, it puts things in a different light, hey?I’m glad you had the chance to see it again.
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So true! I was almost ashamed I had missed them. Hubby agreed with you word for word 🙂
I used to think I would be a good detective. I have an eye for interesting details, but I have experiences in my life that surely leave me swayed to be sympathetic and it fools me sometimes
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I hear you. Being sympathetic has gotten me into some hot water…
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