7.3/10
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78 user 44 critic

Crossfire (1947)

Approved | | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir | 15 August 1947 (USA)
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0:57 | Trailer
A man is murdered, apparently by one of a group of demobilized soldiers he met in a bar. But which one? And why?

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

John Paxton (screenplay), Richard Brooks (adapted from a novel by)
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Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations. See more awards »

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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
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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 army Sgt. Keeley investigates on his own, trying to clear Mitchell, to whom circumstantial evidence points. Then the real, ugly motive for the killing begins to dawn on both Finlay and Keeley. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The Year's most Outspoken Picture See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1947 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Cradle of Fear See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

It has been suggested that one reason the film failed to win any Oscars was director Edward Dmytryk and producer Adrian Scott's testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in late 1947. They refused to state whether they were, or had been, Communists. Dmytryk--a Canadian who had become an American citizen only a decade earlier--and Scott became the first two "members" of the infamous "Hollywood Ten." The Hollywood Ten were a group of producers, writers, and directors who in April 1948 were tried and convicted of contempt of Congress. They were subsequently blacklisted and thus unable to work in Hollywood. See more »

Goofs

At about 22 minutes in, the shadow of the camera and dolly is visible just to the right of the hotel door, behind the MP, as Bill Williams enters the hotel to meet Keeley in the coffee shop. See more »

Quotes

Finlay: How well do you know him?
Keeley: I've tried to like him, but he's not my type.
See more »

Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version. See more »

Connections

References Cornered (1945) See more »

Soundtracks

Shine
(uncredited)
Written by Cecil Mack, Lew Brown, and Ford Dabney
Performed Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band
Played in Red Dragon dance hall when Mitchell first meets Ginny
See more »

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User Reviews

 
The depth of Robert Ryan's acting
16 January 2000 | by shrine-2See all my reviews

Edward Dmytryk directed this shadowy movie about a murder investigation involving demobilized military personnel. Robert Young gets to lecture us about hatred, Robert Mitchum walks through most of this picture, and Gloria Grahame revisits the feistiness she exhibited in "It's A Wonderful Life." It's Robert Ryan who gets at the heart of the matter: anti-semiticism. He goes so deep into his role as Monty Montgomery (Imagine parents named Lawrence calling their son Larry!), that the drama sits squarely on his shoulders, and he is more than up to the challenge. Without him, the movie would be commonplace. Ryan has played a number of memorable villains in his day ("Bad Day at Black Rock;" "Billy Budd"), but this performance put him on the map. With Sam Levene as the murder victim.


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