Quicksand (1950)

After borrowing twenty dollars from his employer's cash register, an auto mechanic is plunged into a series of increasingly disastrous circumstances which rapidly spiral out of his control.

Director:

Irving Pichel

Writer:

Robert Smith (original screenplay)

Stars:

Mickey Rooney, Jeanne Cagney, Barbara Bates

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mickey Rooney	...	Dan
Jeanne Cagney	...	Vera
Barbara Bates	...	Helen
Peter Lorre	...	Nick
Taylor Holmes	...	Harvey
Art Smith	...	Mackey
Wally Cassell	...	Chuck
Richard Lane	...	Lt. Nelson
Patsy O'Connor	...	Millie
John Gallaudet	...	Moriarity
Minerva Urecal	...	Landlady
Sidney Marion	...	Shorty
Jimmie Dodd	...	Buzz (as Jimmy Dodd)
Lester Dorr	...	Baldy
Kitty O'Neil	...	Madame Zaronga

Storyline

Motor mechanic Dan Brady lacks funds for a heavy date with new waitress Vera, the type whose life's ambition is a fur coat; so he embezzles twenty dollars from his employer. To make up the shortage, he goes in debt for a hundred. Thereafter, every means he tries to get out of trouble only gets him deeper into crime, while everyone he meets is out for what they can get.

---

Plot Keywords:

wristwatch | watch | mechanic | bookkeeper | chase | 

---

Taglines:

This is the story of a nice guy who borrows $20 from a cash register to keep a date... with a cop... and a killer!

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sables mouvants

Filming Locations:

Ocean Park Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel H. Stiefel Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a nightclub scene, swing-era bandleader Red Nichols and His Five Pennies are seen and heard.

---

Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

---

Quotes

Harvey: Men don't die easily. They take a lot of killing.

---

Connections

Featured in Red Hollywood (1996)

User Reviews

Rooney Shows His Talent

Here's an unusual film noir because it stars an actor that you wouldn't think would be in a crime film: Mickey Rooney.

But, like a lot of comedians, singers and other non-dramatic actors, Rooney could surprise you with his dramatic talents. He wasn't all Andy Hardy fluff.

Rooney was a fine, fine actor and he does a good job here in this role as a man who makes one mistake after another. Those mistakes compound into a major crime and Rooney winds up in major trouble. In fact, it's pretty amazing to watch this unfold as one small crime leads to one thing after another making things worse and worse as it goes along.

Jeanne Cagney is good as the typically-floozy blonde who is prevalent in so many of these film noirs. Barbara Bates is the wholesome good girl, but she really makes some stupid decisions late in the film, too. In other words, the three main characters are not evil people but they have major flaws.

Overall, it's an odd film of sorts and one that starts slowly but gets better and better as the story progresses. Definitely worth a look to see Rooney play this kind of role.