Noirdame79 This romantic comedy was the first time Lana Turner received top billing, and she does a wonderful job here, showing what the cinema missed in terms of her comedic timing, which was rarely put to use (a few of her films in the 1960s did pick up where this one left off). She plays a working girl Peggy Evans, who is bored with her hum-drum life and her job at a soda fountain. She clashes with her new boss, Bob Stuart (Robert Young), and this results in her disappearing from her old life and starting a new one, complete with a makeover. In doing so, it is believed that she committed suicide; Bob is blamed and loses his job. When she is accidentally knocked unconscious, it is assumed she has amnesia. Desperate to not return to her previous mundane existence, she poses as a long-lost heiress who disappeared as a child, and she is welcomed by the girl's wealthy father, Cornelius Burden (Walter Brennan) and the child's nurse, played by Dame Mae Witty. Bob comes across a photo of the recently returned Carol Burden and recognizes her, and sets out to prove that she is, in fact, Peggy Evans. From there, the comedic and romantic complications ensue.Also in the cast are Ward Bond as the Burden family bodyguard, Eugene Palette as the newspaper owner who takes Peggy in until her "father" comes for her; Alan Mowbray as a stranger whom Bob confides after tracking Peggy down at a concert; Pamela Blake as Peggy's co-worker at the soda fountain, and young Robert Blake has a small role as well. Turner and Young have an appealing chemistry and while they had previously worked together in "Rich Man, Poor Girl" (1938), this second film marked the first and last time they were paired on- screen. It's a shame because they could have been a wonderful movie team (pay close attention to their final kiss - quite steamy for 1943). Young, before he branched out into television, didn't always get the roles that he should have, which is unfortunate. He also had great comedic timing and was handsome and likable; Turner here is still very fresh and innocent, before her deadly femme fatale/blonde bombshell phase. If you love classic romantic comedies or if you are fan of the actors, you will most certainly enjoy this one.(The title of my review was in fact one of the considered titles for the film; others included "Nothing Ventured" and "Lawless" before "Slightly Dangerous" was ultimately chosen).

wes-connors Shapely small town "soda jerk" Lana Turner (as Peggy Evans) can serve jumbo banana splits blindfolded, but gets in trouble for doing it with general manager Robert Young (as Robert "Bob" Stuart). When he sees Ms. Turner without the blindfold, Mr. Young falls in love. And, she is a very beautiful young woman. Still hurting from the reprimand, Turner considers her boring life, and decides to give herself a complete makeover. When her farewell is mistaken for a suicide note, Young is blamed for Turner's disappearance.Turner takes off for New York City, where she dyes her dark hair platinum blonde. There, a mishap lands her in the care of Eugene Palette (as Durstin), who suggests she may be a missing heiress. Turner decides to adopt one's identity ("Carol Burden"), then moves in on wealthy Walter Brennan (as Cornelius) and grandmotherly May Witty (as Baba). Although initially suspicious, Mr. Brennan accepts Turner as his daughter, after she identifies a childhood toy. But, Young needs to find Turner in order to clear his name, and make it a happily ever after ending for everyone.Veteran Wesley Ruggles contributes some fine comic direction, especially for Young. According to "Turner Classic Movies" (TCM) host Robert Osborne, Mr. Ruggles' old friend Buster Keaton directed Lana's nicely played "blindfold" sequence, early in the running time. It also looks, to this viewer, like the "concert balcony" and "coming out party" could be Ruggles / Keaton collaborations. Despite their efforts, the movie seems too long, and doesn't make too much story sense.Several actresses have tried, but it looks like Lana was one of the few who could have played the lead in a biography of Marilyn Monroe, who probably saw the 1940s Turner in the flickering darkness. MGM made "Slightly Dangerous" a well-produced "Cinderella" story for their new starlet; probably, they expected more mileage out of the picture, but Turner would prove a big pay off in due time. The "lingerie scene" shows off an obvious pair of assets. You also get to see rascally Robert Blake (as Sonny) hit Young on the foot with a hammer, and Florence Bates is always fun at the party.****** Slightly Dangerous (4/1/43) Wesley Ruggles ~ Lana Turner, Robert Young, Walter Brennan, May Witty

bkoganbing Slightly Dangerous finds Lana Turner bored with life in small town Hotchkiss Falls and bored with her job as a soda jerk in a department store. She even does her job making a banana split blindfolded to the amusement of the customer, but new general manager Robert Young finds he's not amused. She's fired, but then so is he after she leaves a fake suicide note saying she's throwing herself in the river.Instead she goes to New York and when she's hit by a falling ladder after she's heard talking to herself when she comes to, everyone thinks she's got amnesia. Instead using that she decides to become the long lost daughter of millionaire Walter Brennan who was lost at the age of 2 by nanny Dame May Witty while going to the circus.It's interesting that none of the previous reviewers noted that this a reworking of the Anastasia legend. But that's a serious story involving a plot to deliberately defraud the exiled Romanovs.Maybe I'm missing something here, but I find a comedy based on a premise of fraud and extortion not all that funny. Yet even with a lousy starting point, Slightly Dangerous does holdup somewhat because of the incredible cast of name performers in this film like Ray Collins, Ward Bond, Eugene Palette, and Alan Mowbray besides those already mentioned.And there's Lana Turner who just has to be Lana Turner to get me viewing a film. She's got that winsome quality throughout her films in the Forties that men and women found so appealing.Anyway with a cast like this, chances are you'll find something enjoyable about Slightly Dangerous.

emdragon This little picture, a fine Wesley Ruggles comedy, struts along with great pace, and has a great cast with Lana Turner, Robert Young, Dame May Witty, and Walter Brennan. The acting is excellent, the antics unusual,and the comedy delightful. But the thing that is way beyond compare in this picture is the bubbling beauty of Lana Turner at her absolute peak. She carries the day with a sublime sort of sparkling charm as she changes personalities several times just to break her tedium with life. No, she never HAD amnesia, and no, she never wanted to commit suicide! But people will talk. Her beautiful sparkle and comedic charm actually made me weak in the knees. Robert Young does a decent job chasing her down the entire film, but it is Turner's film all the way.