| On the Loose | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Charles Lederer James Anderson (assistant) |
| Screenplay by | Dale Eunson Katherine Albert |
| Story by | Malvin Wald Collier Young |
| Produced by | Collier Young |
| Starring | Joan Evans Melvyn Douglas Lynn Bari Robert Arthur Hugh O'Brian |
| Cinematography | Archie Stout |
| Edited by | Desmond Marquette |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
Production company | The Filmakers |
| Distributed by | RKO Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
On the Loose is a 1951 Americandrama film directed byCharles Lederer and starringJoan Evans,Melvyn Douglas,Lynn Bari,Robert Arthur andHugh O'Brian. The screenplay was written by Evans' parents Dale Eunson andKatherine Albert[2] from a story byMalvin Wald andCollier Young. The film was produced by Young forIda Lupino's company The Filmakers[3] and distributed byRKO Pictures. Its world premiere was held on October 12, 1951.[1]
Teenager Jill Bradley has become suicidal over recent events. Almost everything in her life has gone wrong since her birthday, which her parents Alice and Frank all but ignored. Alice scolds her for buying a new dress, and Frank allows her to keep it if she completes household chores, then becomes furious after Jill sneaks away to see boyfriend Larry Lindsay and returns home late, smelling of liquor.
Unjust rumors are spread about Jill's reputation and teachers treat her unfairly. Classmates refuse to come to her home when invited and one provokes a fight. Frank, called to the school, slaps Jill rather than trust her. Larry finds more trouble for her, ordering champagne at a restaurant under a false pretense, and then dumps her.
Frank tries to make amends with Jill by taking her to a roadhouse and dancing together. Larry enters and assumes that Frank is Jill's date, insulting her as a girl of low morals. Frank strikes Larry and is arrested for assault.
In court, although her father has advised her to keep silent, Jill testifies and explains Frank's motive, and the court acquits him. Frank and Alice vow to become better parents, and when they host a party for Jill, all of her old school friends attend.
Married screenwriters Dale Eunson andKatherine Albert wrote the screenplay as a vehicle for their daughter Joan Evans. They wrote parts for themselves as schoolteachers but do not appear in the finished film.[2]
The world premiere ofOn the Loose was held on October 11 1951 at theOrpheum and Hawaii theaters in Los Angeles as a double premiere withSlaughter Trail, another RKO Pictures release.[1]
In a contemporary review for theLos Angeles Times, critic Edwin Schallert wrote: "'On the Loose' might be called a nice little picture rather well made, and with purpose. ... The intent of the picture stands out rather obviously, and it is a little short of real cleverness, but later scenes dominated by Miss Evans have a moving quality."[1]
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