the audience applauded

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Joan Crawford plays a the leader of a gang who finds herself having to undergo surgery in order to save her eyesight, only to fall in love with her doctor, Dennis Morgan. However, things get messy when her former boyfriend and fellow gang member gets wind of the budding romance. Crawford plays her usual tough self and that's enough to carry this overly tired story of a criminal seeking to leave their life of crime and go straight. Reportedly Jack L. Warner offered Crawford this tired story expecting her to turn it down so he could put the costly star on suspension, but to his surprise she took the part. Following this film, Crawford negotiated her release from her Warner Bros. contract. Crawford once said this was the only film she regretted ever making (and she even said that after filming "Trog," the film about an unfrozen caveman who goes berserk), but "This Woman is Dangerous" is still an entertaining film and watchable mostly thanks to a strong performance by the always fascinating Crawford in the lead.

Joan Crawford plays the leader of a criminal gang who finds out she's going blind. Kindly doctor Dennis Morgan performs the operation that saves her sight and the two fall in love. Joan's insanely jealous boyfriend David Brian is none too pleased. Despite the title, Joan's character is pretty tame. Crawford and Morgan go through the motions here. Both were on their way out at WB. They have no chemistry together at all. David Brian is an actor I've never been too impressed with. He has a weak screen presence and seems more suited to supporting parts. Due to his friendship with Joan he was given big parts in three movies of hers. Most positive reviews of this film I've read seem to praise his performance. Guess we see things differently as I thought he was just hamming his way through a poor man's impersonation of a WB gangster. This is a forgettable potboiler that's only of note as the last film Joan Crawford did on her Warner Bros. contract. The whole thing feels like a leftover B picture from the '40s. Joan later said this was her worst film. I'm guessing she blacked out the '60s.

Although Joan Crawford is undoubtedly the star of this awful Warners' programmer, and the bland Dennis Morgan is her love interest, David Brian is the best thing about this film. Brian had already appeared with Crawford in Flamingo Road and The Damned Don't Cry, both of which are infinitely superior to this film, and he knew how to hold his own against her. He, at least, brings a little fire to the screen (while Miss Crawford simpers as she suffers and Morgan tries to smile handsomely).Crawford plays Beth Austin, a high-class gangster in league with the volatile Jackson brothers (Brian and Philip Carey) who learns she has one of those unspecified disease integral to all mediocre movies. Morgan is the clean-cut doctor who is the only man who can save her. Of course they fall for each other and events follow a horribly predictable (and unbearably slow) path towards an inevitable conclusion.There isn't much of any worth about this film. It's professionally constructed but lacks any kind of passion, excitement or interest.

This was Joan Crawford's final film under her Warner Brothers contract. She hated the film, but accepted it anyway to complete her agreement with the studio. It is not as bad as everyone thinks it is, but it is odd to see Joan as a lady gangster, going blind, and finding true love with the surgeon (Dennis Morgan) who restores her sight.