Will Otto Kruger "Escape in the Fog?"

What if you had a dream about a murder that seems to be coming true, and no one will believe your story? That’s the premise of the noir-tinged 1945 thriller Escape in the Fog. The story focuses on Eileen Carr, a nurse who’s recuperating from a breakdown she suffered after the ship she was serving on was sunk during a battle. One night, she has a nightmare about witnessing two men attack another man while she’s walking on the Golden Gate Bridge. Eileen wakes up screaming. When several people enter the room at the inn where she’s staying to make sure she’s all right, one of the people who’s at her bedside is the intended murder victim from her dream!

The two have breakfast the next morning. Even though Barry is skeptical of Eileen’s story, he likes her and agrees to help her. The new friends head to San Francisco together. Barry has some business to attend to, though he doesn’t divulge the true nature of that work to Eileen. His boss, Paul Devon, has a new assignment for him. It turns out he’s an undercover agent helping ferret out a network of Nazi spies. But when he disappears during the mission, can Eileen convince Devon that Barry’s in danger, just as she saw in her dream? Or is the likable Devon a double agent out to eliminate Barry?

Otto Kruger in Escape in the Fog

Escape in the Fog is a well-crafted B-movie that’s very typical of its era. The fast-moving tale features a couple of faces that will be quite familiar to classic film fans. Leading lady Nina Foch is probably best remembered for her roles in Executive Suite and An American In Paris, but she also appeared in a number of genre movies such as the thriller My Name Is Julia Ross and the horror outing Return of the Vampire. The most recognizable face in the cast may be character actor extraordinare Otto Kruger, who portrays Paul Devon. Kruger was born in Ohio in 1885, and was trained as a musician from an early age. He was studying engineering in college when he decided to try acting as a career. Kruger made his Broadway debut in 1915, where he often played romantic leads, and became something of a matinee idol.

When Hollywood came calling, Kruger quickly established himself as a reliable supporting player. He had a knack for portraying witty, sophisticated villains (and sometimes heroes) in a variety of genres. Kruger was featured in a host of well-known movies throughout his long career, including Duel in the Sun, High Noon and Magnificent Obsession. You’ll likely recognize him from his turns as the suave but deadly Jules Anthor in Murder, My Sweet or the evil Charles Tobin in Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur. He was also the psychiatrist hero entranced by the title character (played by Gloria Holden) in Dracula's Daughter. Kruger even battled Johnny Weissmuller's jungle lord in Tarzan's Desert Mystery, a film in which he played a villainous Nazi. He gave an excellent performance as a mob boss in the film noir 711 Ocean Drive, which also starred Edmond O'Brien.

Otto Kruger worked steadily in films through the mid 1960s. He appeared frequently on television in series such as Perry Mason, Dr. Kildare, Bonanza and The Rebel. Sadly, he suffered a stroke later in life, which forced his retirement from acting. His final roles were in the 1964 films Della and Sex and the Single Girl. He passed away in 1974. Otto Kruger brought charm, humor and a stylish sense of menace to his many memorable roles. I never fail to smile when I see him turn up in the cast of a movie I'm watching, and he adds a touch of class to Escape in the Fog whenever he is onscreen. The film is available on DVD and occasionally shows up on Turner Classic Movies and other cable channels. It’s worth a look if you enjoy these types of old school thrillers, and at 65 minutes, it never wears out its welcome. This post is part of the What A Character! Blogathon, hosted by my fellow bloggers at Once Upon A Screen, Outspoken & Freckled and Paula's Cinema Club. I'd like to thank them for letting me join in on the fun! You can find out more about the blogathon, and view the other entries here: https://aurorasginjoint.com/2018/11/03/announcement-what-a-character-blogathon-2018/.