Danger – Love at Work is a screwball comedy revolving around the misadventures of a young lawyer tasked with managing the affairs of an eccentric family. The plot follows the lawyer’s attempt to secure signatures on a legal document from a clan of wildly unpredictable characters, only to find himself distracted by the family’s spirited daughter. What begins as a professional responsibility quickly turns into a tangle of comedic misunderstandings, eccentric personalities, and budding romance.
Genre: Screwball Comedy
Director: Otto Preminger
Otto Preminger (1905–1986) was an Austrian-American director, producer, and actor, who became one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers. After emigrating from Austria, Preminger began directing in the late 1930s, later gaining acclaim for tackling challenging and often controversial subjects. His films included classics such as Laura (1944), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), and Exodus (1960). Known for his bold approach, Preminger pushed boundaries on censorship and was celebrated for his precise, often detached directing style. Danger – Love at Work was an early entry in his Hollywood career, showcasing his ability to handle comedy before moving on to more serious works.
Star Cast:
- Ann Sothern as Toni Pemberton
- Jack Haley as Henry MacMorrow
- Mary Horan as Madame Doucette
- John Carradine as Julius Pemberton
- Edward Everett Horton as Judge Thaddeus Parks
- Maurice Cass as Bishop William Platt
The film received a modest reception upon release. While audiences enjoyed its playful humor and eccentric characters, it did not stand out in a decade rich with screwball comedies from directors like Frank Capra and Howard Hawks. However, it offered early evidence of Preminger’s versatility and gave audiences a lighter glimpse of his directing style before he became associated with dramatic, thought-provoking films.
Fun Facts:
- Danger – Love at Work was one of Otto Preminger’s earliest Hollywood directing assignments after moving from stage to film.
- The movie combined some of the era’s most popular comic actors, including Edward Everett Horton, well-known for his quirky supporting roles.
- Ann Sothern, who played the female lead, went on to become a major star of 1940s comedies and musicals, later achieving success on television.
- Though overshadowed by bigger screwball hits of the time, the film is often cited by film historians as an interesting early example of Preminger’s American career.
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