5 Steps to Danger

1956
U
1h 21m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

Sterling Hayden and Ruth Roman in 5 Steps to Danger (1956)

During the 1950s, a man's car trip from L.A. to Texas turns into a Cold-War espionage drama when his car breaks down and he accepts a lift from a stranger.

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Film Noir Crime Drama Romance Thriller

During the 1950s, a man's car trip from L.A. to Texas turns into a Cold-War espionage drama after his car breaks down and he accepts a lift from a stranger.During the 1950s, a man's car trip from L.A. to Texas turns into a Cold-War espionage drama after his car breaks down and he accepts a lift from a stranger.During the 1950s, a man's car trip from L.A. to Texas turns into a Cold-War espionage drama after his car breaks down and he accepts a lift from a stranger.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Kissel
(as Karl Lindt)

John Mitchum

Deputy

John Frederick

Sheriff
(as John Merrick)

Leonard Bremen

Collision Shop Owner
(uncredited)

Sidney Clute

Mechanic
(uncredited)

Ken Curtis

FBI Agent Jim Anderson
(uncredited)

Harry Hines

Motel Owner
(uncredited)

Tom McKee

Man from Sanitarium
(uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Motorcycle Cop
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Filmed before, but released after Ruth Roman's fateful trip aboard the luxury liner, Andrea Doria. The ship collided with another and sank on July 26, 1956. Miss Roman and her young son were among the survivors. During their rescue, they became separated and she arrived in New York before her son did. She was hounded by the press and paparazzi while she waited for her son's ship to arrived at the dock.

Goofs
After Ann and John are handcuffed and escape from the sheriff and deputy, John drives the car. John and Ann are handcuffed with her right wrist and his left and so he has to drive with his arm across his body with Ann as passenger. It is Ann's car and she is a capable driver so why would they travel with the awkward seating. Later, when they stop and get out of the car and then get back in John is the driver again with the crossed arms.

User reviews31

Featured review

6/10

sometimes I think I must be going insane

"Five Steps to Danger" is a decent film from 1957, directed by Henry Kesler and starring Ruth Roman and Sterling Hayden.

Why do I think I must be going insane? All these comparisons to Hitchcock. Okay, the basic story is similar, but so are lots of stories. This movie was as much like a Hitchcock film as "The Sound of Music." Two people handcuffed together does not mean you can make a viable comparison.

The story is interesting, but awkward. Ann (Roman) approaches John (Hayden) in a restaurant. He has just sold his car, which can't be fixed easily, and her car is being serviced. She is in a hurry to get to New Mexico and asks if, for a ride, he will help with the driving so she can get there faster by having him drive at night. He agrees. Well, we live in different times today, but I wouldn't have even talked to this guy much less offer him a ride. Too many true crime shows, I guess.

At one point Hayden is approached by a nurse, who explains that Roman has just been discharged from a mental facility and is being monitored by her and her doctor. The nurse is played by the late Jeanne Cooper, Mrs. Chancellor on The Young and the Restless. She is nearly unrecognizable, she's so young.

Eventually it's revealed that Roman, who was in Berlin and lost family during the war, is supposed to deliver a transcript to a family friend working in the U.S., Dr. Fritz Kissel. She has just located him at a university. The university denies he's ever been there, and Everyone wants to stop her from finding him.

I found this film talky, low on action, low on suspense, and the dialogue and pace awkward. Ruth Roman was very good. I've never been a fan of Sterling Hayden's, but he was okay here.

So-so.