Crossfire (1947)

A man is murdered, apparently by one of a group of soldiers just out of the army. But which one? And why?

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

John Paxton (screenplay), Richard Brooks (novel)

Stars:

Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Young	...	Finlay
Robert Mitchum	...	Keeley
Robert Ryan	...	Montgomery
Gloria Grahame	...	Ginny
Paul Kelly	...	The Man
Sam Levene	...	Samuels
Jacqueline White	...	Mary Mitchell
Steve Brodie	...	Floyd
George Cooper	...	Mitchell
Richard Benedict	...	Bill
Tom Keene	...	Detective (as Richard Powers)
William Phipps	...	Leroy
Lex Barker	...	Harry
Marlo Dwyer	...	Miss Lewis

Storyline

Homicide Capt. Finlay finds evidence that one or more of a group of demobilized soldiers is involved in the death of Joseph Samuels. In flashbacks, we see the night's events from different viewpoints as Sergeant Keeley investigates on his own, trying to clear his friend Mitchell, to whom circumstantial evidence points. Then the real, ugly motive for the killing begins to dawn on both Finlay and Keeley...

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | soldier | murder | time | bar | 

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Taglines:

Hate Is Like A Loaded Gun!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cradle of Fear

Filming Locations:

RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Mitchum hated making the film, later claiming that any American actor could have played Keeley.

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Goofs

As Keeley and Williams leave Bowers' apartment, crew are reflected in the mirror to the left of the door.

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Quotes

Police Captain Finlay: My grandfather was killed just because he was an Irish Catholic. Hating is always the same, always senseless. One day it kills Irish Catholics, the next day Jews, the next day Protestants, the next day Quakers. It's hard to stop. It can end up killing people who wear striped neckties.

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Connections

Referenced in L.A. Noire (2011)

User Reviews

Absolutely fantastic film that still holds up 57 years later!

I first saw CROSSFIRE as a 10-year-old kid in his favorite neighborhood theater in Philadelphia one hot Saturday afternoon. Did I understand it? No, not completely, but one message DID ring through clearly ... that of anti-Semitism, which was alive and well during those years following WWII. But, as I matured, I happened to catch it on not less than three additional occasions, and came out each time with a totally different perspective. Today, at age 67, and having been around the block a few times, I can safely say that there is no room for anti-Semitism today, nor was there in 1947. Of course, to love thy brother is THE way toward a more sensible coexistence... especially in times when the security of ALL is threatened. As for the performances in CROSSFIRE, you couldn't have in any better: Robert Mitchum was superb as a placid veteran in the company of Robert Ryan, who was dynamite as his psychotic counterpart who killed Sam Levene just because he was a Jew. Robert Montgomery did quite well as the detective trying to get to the bottom of an apparently senseless crime. This is TRUE film noire, in "glorious black and white," short, sweet, and very much to the point. GOD! I LOVE those films from the late-'40s and early-50s! Happy viewing everyone!