Walk Softly, Stranger

Walk Softly, Stranger is a 1950 film that tells the story of a small-time crook on the run who later becomes reformed by the love of a crippled woman. This would be the last RKO credit for famed film producer Dore Schary, who would leave the studio soon after the completion of the film. Privately, Schary did not see eye to eye with RKO owner Howard Hughes. Filming ended in June 1948, but Hughes later shelved the film after its completion. It would not see the light of day until its premiere in October 1950, more than two years after production had wrapped. Hughes likely intended to release... the film and capitalize off the success of Carol Reed's The Third Man , which also starred Cotten and Valli. When a man calling himself Chris Hale arrives at the doorstep of her Ashton, Ohio house, asking to see his childhood home, widow Mrs. Brentman gladly invites him in. The unemployed Chris then accepts Mrs. Brentman's offer of a room and takes a job in the shipping department of the Corelli shoe factory. One night, Chris wanders into the Ashton country club and meets Elaine Corelli, his boss's beautiful but paralyzed daughter.
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