Cast overview: | |||
Viveca Lindfors | ... | Lysa Radoff | |
Dane Clark | ... | Ben Arno / Lou Walsh | |
Virginia Mayo | ... | Nurse Julie Benson | |
Edmond O'Brien | ... | Steve Connelly | |
Gordon MacRae | ... | Bob Corey | |
Ed Begley | ... | Police Capt. Garcia | |
Frances Robinson | ... | Mrs. Blayne | |
Richard Rober | ... | Solly Blayne | |
Sheila MacRae | ... | Bonnie Willis (as Sheila Stephens) | |
David Hoffman | ... | Burns |
Bob Corey, recovering from a series of operations in a Veterans' hospital, learns that his friend, Steve Connelly, with whom he intended to buy a ranch, has disappeared under circumstance that indicate he may have been involved in a murder. Accompanied by his nurse, Julie Benson, with whom he has fallen in love, Bob follows a series of clues and incidents, including three more murders, that leads to a gambler, masquerading as an undertaker to avoid taxes on his illegal income, has a whole lot to do with his friend's predicament. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
Bob Corey, a war veteran recovering in a V.A. hospital for a spinal injury, becomes alarmed when his war buddy Steve Connolly vanishes. One night while under sedation his visited by mysterious woman who informs him that Steve has been seriously injured and is in trouble with the law. Bobs nurse convinces him its all a dream. But when Bob is released from the hospital, he is questioned by police who want to know if he knows where he thinks Steve can be found. The police inform Bob that Steve is suspected of killing a gambler. Bob then sets out to find Steve and find the real killer. Along the way bodies pile up and Bobs search for leads him into the clutches of mysterious mobster named Walsh.
BACKFIRE! is a well directed, photographed and acted noir mystery which holds one interest throughout. The ending comes as quite a surprise when the identity of Walsh is revealed. The cast is excellent, including many of the minor players. It was nice to see Virginia Mayo playing a good girl for a change in a film like this. The writers of this film must have had an obsession with spinal chord injuries, since both male leads suffer such injuries during the film.