good back-story, and good acting

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This film is husband on the run - he's the one running from the police. Frank, the husband, is wanted in police witness custody for witnessing a murder but freaks out when the police says the killer might go after him and apparently he doesn't want to be held for witnessing. Frank and his wife Eleanor's marriage is dissolving - Eleanor has grown distant from Frank and that plays a major role in this film. When the police tell Eleanor what happened Eleanor starts dodging the police while making a business 'friendship' with a newspaper reporter named Dan Legget for money in exchange for an exclusive story on the case and a chance to actually talk to Frank if possible. Dan believes Eleanor will lead him to Frank and so does the police that are trailing both them.This story ends in a thrill ride for Eleanor and the viewer - if you watch the film you will see what I mean. It's a pretty darn good movie for fans of crime fiction and film noir.8.5/10

This low-budget gem is well-written, well-directed and full of surprises. Its story about a murder witness who goes on the run and then gets pursued by the police, his estranged wife and the killer is exciting, tense and sometimes humorous. The action's delivered at an exhilarating pace that's perfectly complemented by some sparkling dialogue that ranges from fast-talking wittiness to scathing sarcasm and there's also a few neat plot twists to enjoy.Frank Johnson (Ross Elliott) is walking his dog one night at the entrance to a San Francisco park when he witnesses a gangland killing and gets shot at by the murderer. He escapes injury and when the police arrive on the scene, is informed by Inspector Martin Ferris (Robert Keith) that the victim was due to be a witness at an upcoming mob-related trial. After Frank admits that he could identify the killer if necessary, Inspector Ferris decides to take him into custody for his own protection. Horrified at this suggestion and nervous about the obvious danger he's in, Frank immediately disappears and goes on the run.Inspector Ferris turns to Frank's wife Eleanor (Ann Sheridan) for assistance but she's totally unconcerned about her husband and isn't inclined to provide any help, so the Inspector simply decides to put a tail on her. Later, when Eleanor learns that her husband has a heart condition and needs his medication to avoid a potentially fatal attack, she decides to track him down and is helped in doing this by newspaper reporter Danny Leggett (Dennis O'Keefe) who offers to pay the couple handsomely for an exclusive interview with Frank. Danny's friendly, charming and just as accomplished as Eleanor when it comes to exchanging witty repartee.Eleanor and Danny mostly manage to keep a few steps ahead of the police during their search and Eleanor gains an insight into some aspects of Frank's life that she wasn't aware of before. After receiving a letter from her husband in which he provides her with a mystifying clue to his whereabouts, Eleanor, together with Danny eventually goes to a beach-side amusement park where their search reaches its very eventful and violent conclusion.One of the pleasures of watching this movie is enjoying the ways in which the plot neatly avoids taking the course that seems most obvious from the set-up. For example, manhunt movies are normally seen from the point-of-view of either the police or the person being pursued. This movie avoids both options. Similarly, the romantic dimension of the story doesn't develop in the expected way and there's a superb twist, part of the way through which increases the tension brilliantly.There are also a number of minor incidents which provide amusing surprises such as the sequence during which Eleanor decides to escape from her apartment by the skylight and is helped out by Danny who then goes on to help her cross from the top of her own building to the adjoining one using a plank. After completing this tricky manoeuvre, her action in simply removing the plank before Danny can also cross is both bizarre and funny.Ann Sheridan's great ability to deliver cutting remarks is fully exploited in this movie but she also shows considerable subtlety in the way that she portrays the transition that her character makes from being an unpleasant woman who's become embittered by the apparent failure of her marriage. Dennis O'Keefe and Robert Keith are also good in their supporting roles.Scenes shot on location in San Francisco are used extensively and together with the film's exceptional cinematography do so much to give "Woman On The Run" its tremendous vibrancy, atmosphere and sense of place.

Film-Noir Foundation Founder Eddie Muller Introduced this on TCM as "One of the best Noirs You've never seen." It was Lost for Years and Muller and others were Hot on the Trail of a Good and Surviving Print for a Long While. When one was Discovered it too was Destroyed in a Fire in 2009. One more Great 35mm Print Showed up and now We have this Beautiful Edition to Enjoy. Restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archives.Dennis O'Keefe, Ann Sheridan and San Francisco Locations, Shot by Hal Mohr, Highlight this Taut Tale of a Witness to a Murder by the Mob and is on the Lam Seeking Refuge from His Noirish Plight of an Innocent Man Caught in the Muck of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement.The Police are as Unsympathetic as the Criminals as They must Bring in the Witness to Break Up the Syndicate. Many a Cynical Lines make this an Above Average Low-Budget Movie with Ann Sheridan Attempting a Comeback and O'Keefe at His Chain Smoking Best. The Police Captain Played by Robert Keith is Not Likable but Relentless and sometimes Insensitive to the Wife Trying to Find Her Husband before the Crooks Do the Evil Deed.A Sub-Plot Involving a Failed Marriage Cements the Story and an Amusement Park Roller Coaster Ride Ending make for some Riveting Suspense. A Good Looking Film and the Opening Scene is almost as Good as the Final one and has the Look and Up Close and Personal Violence of Pure Film-Noir, as does the Spiraling Out of Control Situations that Follow.

Woman on the Run is directed by Norman Foster who also co-adapts the screenplay with Alan Campbell from a story by Sylvia Tate. It stars Ann Sheridan, Dennis O'Keefe, Robert Keith and Ross Elliott. Music is by Arthur Lange and Emil Newman and cinematography by Hal Mohr.When Frank Johnson (Elliott) witnesses a man being shot and he himself is shot at by the killer, he decides to go on the run rather than trust police protective custody. The police turn to Frank's wife, Eleanor (Sheridan) to help track him down, but she thinks he has other reasons to runaway. Aided by newspaperman Danny Leggett (O'Keefe), who is after the exclusive story, Eleanor follows the trail left by her husband; but nothing is as it first seems...Compact at under 80 minutes, Woman on the Run is something of a little seen film noir offering. Basically a man hunt in essence, picture boasts strong atmosphere around the San Francisco locations and a last 15 minutes of noir excellence. In the narrative is a failing relationship that gets expanded upon as the story moves forward, and of course there's a twist, which thankfully is a genuine surprise. It's also very well performed, especially by the excellent Sheridan. The problem is that for the first hour it is exposition heavy, while the musical score is often too chirpy, a hindrance to the visual atmospherics. However, once we reach the last quarter and the story unfolds at an amusement park (Pacific Ocean Park), the picture hits its stride. Here is where the shadowy photography takes on a sinister edge, the action seemingly in a drug induced state. It's a terrific finale that lifts the film from being ordinary into must see status for the film noir faithful. 7/10