The Reckless Moment Overview:

The Reckless Moment (1949) was a Drama - Film Noir Film directed by Max Ophüls and produced by Walter Wanger.

BlogHub Articles:

Joan Bennett and James Mason in "The Reckless Moment"

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 25, 2022 From Classic Movie Man

Joan Bennett and James Mason in "The Reckless Moment" Max Ophuls, a renowned German director who only made four films in the United States, directed The Reckless Moment (1949). It starred Joan Bennett and James Mason. It was only Mason’s third American film. The film is based on The Blank... Read full article


“The Reckless Moment”—an overlooked film noir gem

By Stephen Reginald on Apr 5, 2020 From Classic Movie Man

“The Reckless Moment”—an overlooked film noir gem Max Ophuls, a renowned German director who only made four films in the United States, directed The Reckless Moment (1949). It starred Joan Bennett and James Mason. It was only Mason’s third American film. The plot involv... Read full article


The Reckless Moment (1949): Max Ophul’s Balboa Island Noir

By 4 Star Film Fan on Nov 29, 2019 From 4 Star Films

The scene is set. It’s a week before Christmas. We find ourselves in the charming community called Balboa, 50 miles from Los Angeles, and Joan Bennett drives off into the city for very urgent business. She meets an undesirable in a bar, but this is by no means?a tryst. She is facing a sleazy o... Read full article


The Reckless Moment (1949, Max Oph?ls)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Jul 19, 2019 From The Stop Button

The Reckless Moment is self-indulgent. But in a remarkable way. A remarkable and good way. Director Oph?ls and star Joan Bennett both find a way to get at the core of the story, which is a very limited character study of Bennett. The film is occasionally fantastic and sensational?though never melodr... Read full article


The Reckless Moment (1949, Max Oph?ls)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Jul 19, 2019 From The Stop Button

The Reckless Moment is self-indulgent. But in a remarkable way. A remarkable and good way. Director Oph?ls and star Joan Bennett both find a way to get at the core of the story, which is a very limited character study of Bennett. The film is occasionally fantastic and sensational?though never melodr... Read full article


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Quotes from

Martin: Hell is other people...


Lucia Harper: You don't know how a family can surround you at times.
Martin: Do you never get away from your family?
Lucia Harper: No.


Martin: She's lucky to have a mother like you.
Lucia Harper: Everyone has a mother like me. You probably had one, too.


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Facts about

The Balboa Island Car Ferry, used by Joan Bennett and James Mason, still travels the 1000 feet distance between Balboa Island and the Balboa Peninsula.
James Mason said that when Columbia refused to director 'Max Ophuls' the permission to light simultaneously two large and separate sets, to allow a long dolly shot from one place to the other, he thought that "Ophuls could not smile anymore from this day."
For this movie and others made in Hollywood, the director is listed as "Opuls"; however, for his movies made in Europe the name is "Ophuls". His name at birth is Oppenheimer.
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Also directed by Max Ophüls




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Also produced by Walter Wanger




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Also released in 1949




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