Woman on the Run is a 1950 crime film noir directed by Norman Foster and starring Ann Sheridan and Dennis O’Keefe. The film was based on the April 1948 short story “Man on the Run” by Sylvia Tate and filmed on location in San Francisco.

The film was restored and preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Plot
One night, a man tries to blackmail “Danny Boy”, but is shot. The killer then spots unsuccessful painter Frank Johnson (Ross Elliott), out walking his dog, and shoots at him, before fleeing.

The victim was going to testify before a grand jury against a gangster. Since Frank saw the shooter, Police Inspector Ferris (Robert Keith) wants to place him in protective custody so he can testify. Frank has second thoughts and slips away. Ferris speaks to Frank’s wife, Eleanor (Ann Sheridan). She comments, “Just like him, always running away.” Ferris asks her, “Running away from what?” She replies, “From everything.” She is not especially cooperative or concerned about her husband.

Eleanor later tries to sneak out without being spotted by the police and encounters reporter Danny Legget (Dennis O’Keefe). He offers help and $1000 for an exclusive story. Sam, a friend, passes along a message that Frank will send her a letter addressed to his co-worker Maibus.

When Eleanor returns to her apartment, Ferris informs her that he has spoken with Frank’s doctor. He is taking medicine for a bad heart, a condition she was unaware of. Ferris has instructed all druggists to notify him if someone asks for it. Eleanor gets some from his doctor.

Frank’s letter is intercepted by Legget, who gains Eleanor’s trust. The letter gives cryptic instructions on where Frank is. They speak to Sam again; his friend Suzie mentions to Legget that Frank made a sketch that looks like him. Legget later returns, gets the drawing and tears it up; Suzie dies from a fall from a building.

During the course of her investigation, Eleanor learns things she never knew about Frank, including that he still loves her. She begins to question herself, her feelings for him and how she treated him.

Once Eleanor figures out Frank’s riddle, she and Legget go to a beachside amusement park at night. Ferris follows them there. Then Ferris receives a phone call from Sam, who tells him that the only thing missing from Suzie’s possessions is Frank’s drawing. When Eleanor finds Frank, she reconciles with him. She then goes to find Legget. When they spot Ferris, they get on the roller coaster to avoid being spotted. Legget has Eleanor stay on the roller coaster, while he goes to meet Frank. She suddenly realizes that Legget is the killer (he remarked that Frank was shot at, a detail known only to her, the police and the gunman), but she is trapped on the ride. Leggett tries to induce a heart attack in Frank. The two fight and shots ring out. Eleanor runs to the scene to discover that Ferris has shot the corrupt reporter. She finds her husband and the two embrace.

Cast
Ann Sheridan as Eleanor Johnson
Dennis O’Keefe as Daniel Legget
Robert Keith as Inspector Martin Ferris
John Qualen as Maibus
Frank Jenks as Detective Shaw
Ross Elliott as Frank Johnson
Jane Liddell as Messenger Girl
Joan Shawlee as Blonde (as Joan Fulton)
J. Farrell MacDonald as Sea Captain
Steven Geray as Dr. Hohler
Victor Sen Yung as Sam
Reiko Sato as Suzie (as Rako Sato)
Syd Saylor as Sullivan
Tom Dillon as Joe Gordon (as Thomas P. Dillon)