Appointment with Danger (1950) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A postal inspector infiltrates a murderous gang after a witness links it to a planned million-dollar robbery.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

Rainstorm Witness

A postal inspector is murdered and his body is dumped during a rainstorm. Sister Augustine witnesses suspicious behavior and reports it, bringing Al Goddard into the case.

Key Events

• Postal Inspector Murdered — Regas and Soderquist murder a postal inspector. Characters: Joe Regas, George Soderquist Location: Gary, Indiana
• Body Dumped in La Porte — The killers dump the body during a rainstorm. Characters: Joe Regas, George Soderquist Location: La Porte
• Nun Encounters the Killers — Soderquist distracts Augustine by helping with her umbrella. Characters: Sister Augustine, George Soderquist Location: La Porte
• Witness Reports Incident — Augustine reports the suspicious incident to a policeman. Characters: Sister Augustine Location: Near La Porte
• Goddard Takes the Case — Postal inspector Goddard is assigned to investigate. Characters: Al Goddard Location: Gary

The Witness Returns

Goddard finds Sister Augustine at a Fort Wayne convent and secures her cooperation. Her mug-book identification of Soderquist gives the investigation its first major breakthrough.

Key Events

• Goddard Takes the Case — Postal inspector Goddard is assigned to investigate. Characters: Al Goddard Location: Gary
• Witness Found at Convent — Goddard traces Augustine and asks her to cooperate. Characters: Al Goddard, Sister Augustine Location: Fort Wayne convent
• Soderquist Identified — Augustine identifies Soderquist from a mug book. Characters: Al Goddard, Sister Augustine, George Soderquist Location: Fort Wayne convent
• Witness Returns to Gary — Goddard places Augustine where she may see Soderquist again. Characters: Al Goddard, Sister Augustine Location: Gary convent
• Soderquist Escapes — Goddard spots Soderquist with Ferrar, but Soderquist escapes. Characters: Al Goddard, George Soderquist, Paul Ferrar Location: Gary

The Gang Closes Ranks

Soderquist escapes surveillance, while Regas warns Boettiger about Augustine. Soderquist's refusal to leave town leads the gang to execute its own member.

Key Events

• Regas Warns Boettiger — Regas warns Boettiger that Augustine may expose Soderquist. Characters: Joe Regas, Earl Boettiger, Sister Augustine Location: Gary hotel
• Gang Kills Soderquist — Soderquist refuses to leave town and is killed by the gang. Characters: Earl Boettiger, George Soderquist Location: Gary
• Goddard Predicts Another Crime — Goddard concludes the gang still has an active plan. Characters: Al Goddard Location: Gary

The Million-Dollar Target

Goddard deduces that the gang is preparing another crime and learns about a vulnerable million-dollar money transfer. He recognizes Ferrar's connection to the transfer trucks.

Key Events

• Money Shipment Targeted — The postmaster identifies a vulnerable train transfer worth one million dollars. Characters: Al Goddard, Paul Ferrar Location: Gary post office
• Ferrar Linked to Trucks — Goddard recognizes Ferrar as one of the transfer truck drivers. Characters: Al Goddard, Paul Ferrar Location: Gary post office
• Goddard Infiltrates Gang — Goddard poses as a corrupt inspector and meets Boettiger. Characters: Al Goddard, Paul Ferrar, Earl Boettiger Location: Gary hotel

Inside the Criminal Plan

Goddard infiltrates Boettiger's gang by posing as a corrupt inspector. Regas continues targeting Augustine, while Boettiger's sudden plan change forces Goddard to call police.

Key Events

• Attempted Convent Accident — Regas unsuccessfully tries to arrange Augustine's fatal accident. Characters: Joe Regas, Sister Augustine Location: Gary convent grounds
• Robbery Plan Changes — Boettiger makes a last-minute change to the robbery plan. Characters: Al Goddard, Earl Boettiger, Paul Ferrar Location: Gary hotel
• Dodie Hears Police Call — Dodie overhears Goddard calling police and chooses to protect him. Characters: Al Goddard, Dodie Location: Gary hotel

Shootout at the Transfer

Augustine accidentally exposes Goddard's identity, but he buys time by starting a fight. Police arrive at the industrial district, where the gang members are killed.

Key Events

• Augustine Exposes Goddard — Augustine blurts out Goddard's name when the robbery begins. Characters: Al Goddard, Sister Augustine, Joe Regas, Earl Boettiger, Paul Ferrar Location: Gang meeting site
• Industrial District Shootout — Goddard starts a fight, police arrive, and a shootout kills the gang members. Characters: Al Goddard, Sister Augustine, Joe Regas, Earl Boettiger, Paul Ferrar Location: Industrial district
• Criminal Operation Ends — The gang's robbery plot is foiled and its members are dead. Characters: Al Goddard, Sister Augustine, Earl Boettiger, Joe Regas, Paul Ferrar Location: Industrial district

Story Breakdown

• Murderous Opening — The crime and its surviving witness establish the central investigation.
  • Inspector Murder — Joe Regas and George Soderquist murder a postal inspector.
  • Rainstorm Witness — Sister Augustine observes the killers near the dumped body.
• Witness Cooperation — Al Goddard locates Augustine and turns her testimony into investigative evidence.
  • Convent Interview — Goddard persuades Augustine to cooperate at the Fort Wayne convent.
  • Mug Book Identification — Augustine identifies George Soderquist from a mug book.
• Gang Retaliation — The gang tries to neutralize the witness and disciplines a disobedient member.
  • Soderquist Escapes — Goddard spots Soderquist with Ferrar, but the suspect gets away.
  • Gang Execution — Boettiger's gang kills Soderquist after he refuses to leave town.
• Robbery Discovery — Goddard identifies the gang's next objective through postal transport details.
  • Train Transfer Weakness — A regular money shipment requires a vulnerable seven-minute truck transfer.
  • Ferrar Connection — Goddard recognizes Ferrar as one of the transfer truck drivers.
• Undercover Infiltration — Goddard enters the gang while the criminals intensify their threats against Augustine.
  • False Corrupt Inspector — Goddard poses as a corrupt inspector to meet Boettiger.
  • Convent Attack Fails — Regas unsuccessfully attempts to stage a fatal accident for Augustine.
• Plan Collapses — A last-minute change and an accidental disclosure destroy the gang's advantage.
  • Emergency Police Call — Goddard phones police from the gang's hotel after the plan changes.
  • Dodie Protects Goddard — Dodie overhears the call, refuses to expose Goddard, and leaves town.
• Industrial Shootout — Goddard delays the gang long enough for police to arrive and end the operation.
  • Identity Revealed — Augustine blurts out Goddard's name at the robbery meeting.
  • Gang Destroyed — A police shootout in the industrial district kills the gang members.

Directed by

Lewis Allen

Key Cast

• Alan Ladd — Al Goddard
• Phyllis Calvert — Sister Augustine
• Paul Stewart — Earl Boettiger
• Jan Sterling — Dodie
• Jack Webb — Joe Regas