Dangerous to Know Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Dangerous to Know Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 1, 2025

Robert Florey's "Dangerous to Know" (1938) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Tony Quinn; new audio commentary by critic Jeremy Arnold; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region "locked".

"Hey boss. Let me." "No. This is my business".

Stephan Recka (Akim Tamiroff) runs the entire city, and everyone with half a brain knows it. Recka is a gangster but untouchable because he has the mayor and every other public figure of notable importance on his payroll. What Recka wants, he gets, and usually pretty quickly, too.

While hosting one of his regular posh parties where the city’s most affluent businessmen and corrupt politicians gather to kiss his ring, Recka becomes enamored with Margaret Van Case (Gail Patrick), a popular socialite, who represents everything money cannot buy. However, Recka learns that she is already in a relationship with Philip Easton (Harvey Stephens), a hardworking but struggling bond salesman, and the two plan to marry. Despite being warned by his loyal confidante Lan Ying (Anna May Wong) not to pursue a relationship with Van Case, Recka chooses to do precisely that, and soon after sets up a scheme to destroy her future husband and have her fall in love with him. One part of the scheme works as intended. Recka makes a massive bond purchase through Easton, who instantly declares that his commission will permanently redirect his life, and contracts two seasoned tough guys to steal the bonds and his money in exchange for a different commission. However, the remaining part of the scheme begins falling apart when the tough guys attempt to cheat Recka and make a foul play, and, after throwing Easton in jail, Inspector Brandon (Lloyd Nolan) and his associates realize that fate may have finally presented them with the perfect opportunity to take down the most powerful man in the city. Nevertheless, convinced that he can still emerge victorious, Recka meets Van Case and agrees to help free Easton if she becomes his wife. He gets a commitment from Van Case, presented with a stern warning that she will never love him, and quickly arranges an escape journey to Europe, but abandons his right-hand man (Tony Quinn) and loyal confidante.

Robert Florey’s film Dangerous to Know works with original material penned by Edgar Wallace, but it is worth seeing because of several terrific performances that essentially make it look like an original project. For example, after initially leaving the impression that he is a one-dimensional bully with seemingly unlimited resources, Tamiroff’s gangster evolves into a fascinating risk-taker whose philosophy of life is very much worth deconstructing. At the center of it is a concept of pragmatism so ruthless that his enemies and allies constantly misjudge his intentions and abilities to get what he is after, even when he openly describes them, gradually exposing a most unusual chameleon. Tamiroff’s performance handles the gangster, the risk-taker, and the chameleon with striking authority. Patrick and Quinn’s characters, both very intelligent and interesting for different reasons, are convincingly outplayed by the chameleon. Wong’s character has the most accurate understanding of his philosophy of life, but is also outmaneuvered and left with the realization that in it there are only human pieces that are constantly rearranged for his benefit.

The finale is predictable because it sends the right message. But it is unquestionably flawed. In the real world, even during the 1930s, Tamiroff’s chameleon would have prepared multiple outs and carefully ensured May and Quinn’s mutual destruction. A chameleon that takes over a city and remains its undisputed leader would not allow his feelings and emotions to force him to improvise. They would be incompatible with his winning concept of pragmatism.

Dangerous to Know Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Dangerous to Know arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release introduces a recent 2K makeover of the film. I quite like it because it gives the entire film a nice organic appearance. However, some areas of it reveal source limitations that introduce small yet unmissable fluctuations affecting delineation, clarity, and depth. In a couple of spot, it almost looks like bits of footage come from multiple sources. This is not a problem for me because the film is nearly one hundred years old and even these spots have decent organic qualities. Elsewhere, the quality of the visuals ranges from very good to excellent. The grayscale is convincing. Blacks are lush and healthy, never appearing boosted, and grays and whites are equally healthy and nicely balanced. Despite some sporadic small shakiness, image stability is good. I did not encounter any traces of problematic digital corrections. There are no large distracting cuts, debris, marks, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Dangerous to Know Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

All exchanges are clear and easy to follow. I did not notice any serious age-related anomalies while viewing the film. However, if the volume is turned up enough, occasionally mild hiss can be noticed. However, it is not accompanied by distortions of the kind that usually exist on various older films that have not been properly remastered/restored. Dynamic intensity is limited, but perhaps easy to describe as good, given the age of the film.

Dangerous to Know Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this audio commentary, critic Jeremy Arnold explains why Dangerous to Know was not considered an A-film when with was produced by Paramount, and discusses the nature of the relationships at the center of the film, the careers of the principal actors, etc.

• The Guardian Interview with Anthony Quinn - in this archival program, critic Sheridan Morley interviews Tony Quinn at the National Film Theatre in London on September 4, 1995. The Oscar-winning actor discusses his childhood in Mexico, relocation to America, and career in Hollywood, as well as some of the most famous cinematic characters he played. In English, not subtitled. (75 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Dangerous to Know.

• Pressbook Gallery - a collection of original press materials for Dangerous to Know.

• Nurse and Martyr (1914) - presented here is a portion of Percy Moran's silent film, which was written by Edgar Wallace and features his first film credit. With music. (12 min).

• Booklet - a limited edition exclusive booklet with new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, an archival interview with actor Anna May Wong, an archival profile of actor Akim Tamiroff, new writing on Nurse and Martyr, and technical credits.

Dangerous to Know Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is remarkable that so many films Hollywood produced during the 1930s and 1940s have such complex characters. In Dangerous to Know, Akim Tamiroff's character is a powerful gangster who has taken over an entire city that gradually evolves into a fascinating risk-taker and ultimately a most unusual chameleon whose philosophy of life has not aged one bit. But Tamiroff's gangster is one of several equally great characters that make viewing Dangerous to Know quite a treat. I am a little surprised that Hollywood has not attempted to produce a modern remake of Dangerous to Know, and at the same time relieved because if one materializes, everything that is great about the original characters will undoubtedly be ruined. Indicator/Powerhouse Films' release offers a good presentation of a recent 2K makeover, prepared at Universal. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.