Crack-Up (1946)Art curator George Steele experiences a train wreck...which never happened. Is he cracking up, or the victim of a plot? Director:Irving Reis |
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Crack-Up (1946)Art curator George Steele experiences a train wreck...which never happened. Is he cracking up, or the victim of a plot? Director:Irving Reis |
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| Pat O'Brien | ... |
George Steele
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| Claire Trevor | ... |
Terry Cordell
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Herbert Marshall | ... |
Traybin
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| Ray Collins | ... |
Dr. Lowell
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Wallace Ford | ... |
Lt. Cochrane
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Dean Harens | ... |
Reynolds
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Damian O'Flynn | ... |
Museum Curator Stevenson
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Erskine Sanford | ... |
Museum Director Barton
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Mary Ware | ... |
Mary Ware
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George Steele, art curator at a small museum, has an apparent mental breakdown one night, convinced he was in a train wreck...which never happened. In flashback, shortly after proposing to x-ray some old master paintings the museum has on loan, Steele is called on an unplanned nocturnal train trip. He suddenly sees another train ahead, speeding toward his... Is George indeed cracking up, or is there a plot to discredit him? The mystery grows murky with shadowy menace... Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Pat O'Brien was wonderful supporting actor. Having him as your lead was kind of unusual -- not to mention having him play an expert in art. He does a great job, though, as does the whole cast. Claire Trevor, in a way, is the only major name actor. Ray Collins is good but maybe not up to the pivotal role he plays. In a small part, Mary Ware is very effective.
Charlie Chan movies occasionally involved art thefts or forgeries. Of course, there is the black bird in "The Maltese Falcon." But generally, this is an unusual setting for a film noir, which this definitely is.
It's tense but maybe not so tense as it might be. I like Hitchcock but do not worship at his feet. Whoever, had he directed this, it could have been a tight, thrilling picture. He'd have story-boarded it all before filming and we'd have been on the edge of our seats as ti played out.
He didn't, of course, and it's still a really good movie. It's noir with a highbrow twist, just as "Red Light" -- which I haven't seen in 15 years and wish would turn up -- is noir with a religious setting.