6.6/10
1,686
66 user 21 critic

Quicksand (1950)

Approved | | Crime , Drama , Film-Noir | 24 March 1950 (USA)
Quicksand Poster
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 | See full cast & crew »
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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 Patsy O'Connor ... Millie
John Gallaudet ... Moriarity
Minerva Urecal ... Landlady
Sidney Marion Sidney Marion ... Shorty
Jimmie Dodd ... Buzz (as Jimmy Dodd)
Lester Dorr ... Baldy
Kitty O'Neil Kitty O'Neil ... Madame Zaronga
See full cast »
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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. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

wristwatch | watch | mechanic | bookkeeper | chase | See All (48) »

Taglines:

A guy who yields to temptation just once...... ....and finds it's once too often! See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1950 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Sables mouvants See more »

Filming Locations:

Ocean Park Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel H. Stiefel Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

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

Trivia

This film has one of the first examples of product placement with a box of Bit-O-Honey candy bars by Jeanne Cagney's cash register. See more »

Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.] See more »

Quotes

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

Connections

Referenced in Troma Tour 5000 (2017) See more »

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User Reviews

 
An auto mechanic slips deeper and deeper into the 'quicksand' of crime.
20 October 1998 | by bux – See all my reviews

A great little hunk of film noir. Rooney is sympathetic, albeit immoral as the mechanic that steals $20 and slips deeper into despair as the tale moves on. Peter Lorre is despicable as the man you love to hate, the one who drives Rooney deeper into crime. This one was made after the war, as Rooney attempted to regain his box offce appeal in adult roles. A nifty flick,
21 of 24 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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