Two O'Clock Courage

Two O'Clock Courage is a 1945 American film noir directed by Anthony Mann and written by Robert E. Kent, based on a novel by Gelett Burgess. The drama features Tom Conway and Ann Rutherford.^[1] It is a remake of Two in the Dark (1936).

Two O'Clock Courage
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Anthony Mann
Screenplay by	Robert E. Kent Gordon Kahn (additional dialogue)
Based on	Two O'Clock Courage 1934 novel by Gelett Burgess
Produced by	Benjamin Stoloff
Starring	Tom Conway Ann Rutherford Jane Greer
Cinematography	Jack MacKenzie
Edited by	Philip Martin
Music by	Roy Webb
Production company	RKO Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Pictures
Release date	April 13, 1945 (1945-04-13) (United States)
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

An amnesiac who fears he's the mystery man in a high-profile murder case searches for the truth with the help of a female cabdriver.

Cast

• Tom Conway as The Man, Theodore "Step" Allison
• Ann Rutherford as Patty Mitchell
• Richard Lane as Al Haley
• Lester Matthews as Mark Evans
• Roland Drew as Steve Maitland
• Emory Parnell as Insp. Bill Brenner
• Jane Greer as Helen Carter (billed as Bettejane Greer)
• Jean Brooks as Barbara Borden

Production

The film was based on a 1934 novel that had been filmed by RKO in 1936 as Two in the Dark. It was directed by Benjamin Stoloff who produced Two O'Clock Courage. The film starred Tom Conway, who was appeared in The Falcon series at RKO. Ann Rutherford had just left MGM studios. Filming started August 1944.

Reception

The New York Times called the film "a modest little item of second-rate cinematic fun".^[2]

Variety called it a "slow paced, drab mystery... situations are obvious, the dialog routine" although it felt the leads "give film some story strength."^[3] Has been shown on the Turner Classic Movies show 'Noir Alley' with Eddie Muller.