IMDb > Impact (1949)
Impact
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Photos (see all 13 | slideshow) Videos
Impact (1949) -- In San Francisco, the successful self-made businessman Walter Williams has just bought three factories in Denver with the approval of the board of directors...

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   688 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Jay Dratler (story)
Dorothy Davenport (writer) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Impact on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 September 1949 (Sweden) more
Tagline:
Wanted by two women! One for Love! One for Murder!
Plot:
In San Francisco, the successful self-made businessman Walter Williams has just bought three factories... more | full synopsis
User Comments:
Doing the Right Thing Never Works Out more (35 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Brian Donlevy ... Walter Williams

Ella Raines ... Marsha Peters
Charles Coburn ... Lt. Quincy
Helen Walker ... Irene Williams
Anna May Wong ... Su Lin
Robert Warwick ... Capt. Callahan
Clarence Kolb ... Darcy
Art Baker ... Defense Attorney
William Wright ... Prosecutor

Mae Marsh ... Mrs. King
Sheilah Graham ... Herself
Tony Barrett ... Jim Torrence
Philip Ahn ... Ah Sing
Glen Vernon ... Ed (as Glenn Vernon)
Linda Leighton ... Telephone Operator
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
111 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely (and usually badly) edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation (or more) copies of the film. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Marsha's mother, is identified in dialogue by the name Mrs. King. Yet in the closing credits, she is identified as Mrs. Peters. more
Quotes:
Narrator: [First lines] Impact, the force with which two lives come together. Sometimes for good, sometimes for evil. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Avain (2006) more
Soundtrack:
It' Can't Be more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Doing the Right Thing Never Works Out, 30 April 2007
10/10
Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In San Francisco, the successful self-made businessman Walter Williams (Brian Donlevy) has just bought three factories in Denver with the approval of the board of directors. His beloved wife Irene (Helen Walker) tells him that she is not feeling well to travel with him, and asks Walter to give a lift to her cousin Jim Torrance (Tony Barrett). On the highway, Jim, who is actually Irene's lover, tries to kill Walter hitting his head and throwing him in a cliff, and has a fatal accident while escaping driving Walters's car. Walter is considered dead and later his wife is sent to jail accused of plotting his murder. Meanwhile, the wounded Walter sleeps in a moving van and awakes in Larkspur, a small town in Idaho. He is hired as a mechanic in a gas station by the owner, Marsha Peters (Ella Raines). For three months, Walter reads the news, expecting revenge with Irene sentenced to death, and he and Marsha fall in love for each other. When Walter discloses the truth to Marsha, she convinces him to return to San Francisco and save his unfaithful wife. The situation changes when Irene accuses him of plotting to kill her lover Jim, and Walter has to prove his innocence.

"Impact" is a great film-noir, with a melodramatic story full of twists. Helen Walker is perfect in the role of a cynical femme fatale, and Ella Raines is extremely beautiful and efficient in her role. Brian Donlevy performing a character of twenty-five years old is miscast. This is the greatest flaw in the screenplay, since he was a successful man that had worked for ten years as a worker and than reached a supervisory position. How could he be so powerful executive with this age only? Considering Walter Williams a man of forty and something years, the story becomes credible. This excellent unknown movie hooks the attention until the very last scene. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Impacto" ("Impact")

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (35 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Impact (1949)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I live in Larkspur 21bostoncalifornia
Building same as one used in Vertigo avgavg
Actor likeness loveandarsenic
Song in credits panchro-press
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Fury They Won't Forget Call Northside 777 Midnight Court The Last Seduction
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.