Edge of Doom

Edge of Doom
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mark Robson
Produced by	Samuel Goldwyn
Screenplay by	Philip Yordan
Based on	the novel by Leo Brady
Starring	Dana Andrews Farley Granger Joan Evans
Narrated by	Dana Andrews
Music by	Hugo Friedhofer
Cinematography	Harry Stradling
Edited by	Daniel Mandell
Production company	Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release dates	August 2, 1950 (1950-08-02) (Premiere-New York City) August 30, 1950 (1950-08-30) (US)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Edge of Doom is a 1950 black-and-white film noir directed by Mark Robson and starring Dana Andrews, Farley Granger, and Joan Evans.

Plot

The story concerns a young mentally disturbed man, Martin Lynn (Farley Granger), who goes on a rampage after his sick mother dies. One of his main targets is the Catholic Church which, in addition to slighting him when his mother needed a priest, refused to bury his father years earlier because he committed suicide. The man, blaming the environment he lives in, takes revenge on his cheap boss, a mortician and a Catholic priest, Father Kirkman (Harold Vermilyea), who refuses to give his poor mother a big funeral. He begins by killing the hard-line priest who slighted him by beating him with a heavy crucifix. Later, a young priest, Father Roth (Dana Andrews), suspects the young man, who has been arrested for another crime, of the killing.

Cast

• Dana Andrews as Father Thomas Roth
• Farley Granger as Martin Lynn
• Joan Evans as Rita Conroy
• Robert Keith as Lieutenant Mandel
• Paul Stewart as Craig
• Mala Powers as Julie, Martin's girlfriend
• Adele Jergens as Irene, Craig's girlfriend
• John Ridgely as 1st Detective
• Douglas Fowley as 2nd Detective
• Harold Vermilyea as Father Kirkman
• Mabel Paige as Mrs. Pearson
• Ellen Corby as Mrs. Jeanette Moore
• Robert Karnes as George, a Priest narrated to

Reception

Critical response

When the film was released, the staff at Variety magazine gave the film a positive review, writing, "A grim, relentless story, considerably offbeat, gives some distinction to Edge of Doom. It is played to the hilt by a good cast and directed with impact by Mark Robson." The New York Times wrote, "Robson's direction gives flashes of high tension to the film, for he has made effective use of street scenes and noises and has skillfully reflected the oppressive atmosphere of poverty and squalor, but his actors run more to types than to real people."

Awards

Wins

• National Board of Review of Motion Pictures: NBR Award - Top Ten Films; 1950.

External links

• Edge of Doom at IMDb
• Edge of Doom at AllMovie
• Edge of Doom at the TCM Movie Database
• Edge of Doom film scene on YouTube