A Game of Death (1945)

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Richard Connell (story)
Norman Houston (writer)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

A remake of Richard Connell's famous short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," about a madman who hunts human prey on his personal island habitat. |

Plot Keywords:

Hunting | Murder | Remake

Cast

John Loder	...	Don Rainsford
Audrey Long	...	Ellen Trowbridge
Edgar Barrier	...	Erich Kreiger
Russell Wade	...	Robert Trowbridge
Russell Hicks	...	Mr. Whitney
Gene Roth	...	Pleshke (as Gene Stutenroth)
Noble Johnson	...	Carib
Jason Robards Sr.	...	Captain (as Jason Robards)
Robert Clarke	...	Helmsman

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The footage of the hunting dogs is lifted directly from The Most Dangerous Game (1932).

Movie Connections:

Version of Deadly Game (1991) (TV)

A Weak Film

Why RKO felt the need to remake The Most Dangerous Game 13 years later eludes me, but they did and really did so poorly. This film bears little resemblance to its forerunner except in the basic plot, which it even has the temerity to change in all the wrong places. Director Robert Wise, early in his career, has little to work with here. The script is shallow, the sets and budget very small...so small in fact that most of the chase scenes and scenes with dogs are from the 1932 version of the film. In point of fact, very little has been added here at all, except some third-rate performers(with the exception of Edgar Barrier in the Zaroff role) and some tedious and plotting scripting and direction. Noble Johnson is back...yes he was in the first film..and they even use footage of him from the earlier film looking completely different. Why? Oh well...I guess it was not suppose to be anything real good...and to be sure it does not even come close to being good. Do yourself a big favour and watch the original. That is a masterpiece!