A Life At Stake (1954)

An architect (Keith Andes) enters a business deal with a woman (Angela Lansbury) and her wealthy husband (Douglass Dumbrille). But when he's asked to take out a pricey insurance policy on himself, he becomes suspicious and paranoid even while having an illicit affair with the wife. Directed by Paul Guilfoyle. Anyone who's seen DOUBLE INDEMNITY knows exactly where this movie is headed and that's exactly the path it follows. There's no equivalent of the Edward G. Robinson character but Lansbury and Andes are obvious stand ins for Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. Lansbury is as good an actress as Stanwyck but the material doesn't allow her to do much beyond going through the motions. Alas, Andes is no Fred MacMurray and his dupe isn't very interesting. The film occasionally suggests it might veer off the beaten path but that's just a tease. Still, at a brief running time of an hour and 17 minutes it doesn't wear out its welcome. The score is by Les Baxter. With Jane Darwell, Gavin Gordon and Claudia Barrett.