The Unguarded Moment (1956)

★ 6.2 1h 35m IMDb

A high-school music teacher is the victim of a student who writes indecent notes and assaults women.

The Unguarded Moment

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Cast

Esther Williams
Esther Williams as Lois Conway Died 2013 · Inglewood, California, USA Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
George Nader
George Nader as Police Lt. Harry Graham Died 2002 · Pasadena, California, USA George Garfield Nader, Jr. (October 19, 1921 – February 4, 2002) was an American actor and writer of Lebanese descent. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 to 1974, including Sins of Jezebel (1...
John Saxon
John Saxon as Leonard Bennett Died 2020 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA John Saxon (born Carmine Orrico; August 5, 1935 – July 25, 2020) was an American actor and martial artist who worked on more than 200 projects during a span of 60 years. Saxon is known for his work in...
Edward Andrews
Edward Andrews as Mr. Bennett Died 1985 · Griffin, Georgia, USA Edward Andrews (October 9, 1914 – March 8, 1985) was an American actor, one of the most recognizable character actors on television and films between the 1950s and the 1980s. His stark white hair, por...
Les Tremayne
Les Tremayne as Mr. Pendleton Died 2003 · Balham, London, England, UK Les Tremayne (16 April 1913 – 19 December 2003) was a radio, film, and television actor. Born Lester Tremayne in England, he moved with his family at the age four to Chicago, where he began in communi...
Jack Albertson
Jack Albertson as Prof Died 1981 · Malden, Massachusetts, USA Jack Albertson (June 16, 1907 – November 25, 1981) was an American character actor dating to vaudeville.  A comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, Albertson is perhaps best known for his roles as Man...

Audience Reviews

John Chard 7/10 Oct 22, 2017
Leonard, you have your mother's eyes... especially when you're telling a lie.

The Unguarded Moment is directed by Harry Keller and adapted to screenplay by Herb Meadow and Larry Marcus from a story by Marcus and Rosalind Russell. It stars Esther Williams, George Nader, John Saxon, Edward Andrews and Les Tremayne. Music is by Herman Stein and cinematography by William H. Daniels.

Music teacher Lois Conway (Williams) starts receiving notes from a secret admirer, it's merely the start of something that will have severe consequences for all involved.

It's a little tricky to say exactly what the intentions of the story's creators were for this one. Is it meant to be a sharp observation on sexism, misogynism, some other ism? or maybe just a caustic warning on the dangers that can lurk in teacher/student relations? Whatever the case may be, and it really isn't all together clear, it's a quirky, yet dramatic, trashy slice of entertainment.

Opening with a wonderfully Hitchcockian type score (Hitch could have done wonders with this material), pic serves us up the dead body of a woman and then thrusts us into the sexually charged atmosphere of an all action college. It's a school where the girls swoon over the jocks and where the main teacher of the tale is one of the sexiest and most beautiful teachers ever! From here there's mysteries to be solved, who is stalking teacher? who is the murderer? is it the same person? and so on.

Narrative revels in lurid teasings, with the Technicolor photography vividly aiding the cause. Keller's direction is sadly plodding, but he does show a keen eye for shadow play and tension mounting sequences. Perfs are good, especially an out of type Williams in a thankless role, while a brilliantly creepy Andrews steals the show.

It's all a bit wild and rickety, but I have to say I really liked it. Newcomers will have to roll the dice and take their chances with it. 7/10

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