Crossfire
 | Directed by Edward Dmytryk Starring: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Paul Kelly Turner Home Ent, 1947, DVD Customer Rating: 21 reviews Recommend |
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Studio: Turner Hm Entertainm Release Date: 07/05/2005 Run time: 86 minutes Rating: Nr
Crossfire was nominated for the 1947 Best Picture Oscar won by Gentleman's Agreement. Gentlemen may propose, if not agree, that Crossfire was better. Like its upscale rival, the film noir raises the specter of anti-Semitism in America: just after World War II, an affable Jew (Sam Levene) is beaten to death by one of several GIs out "crawling." Solving the crime takes all night, but for the audience the killer's identity is scarcely in doubt; Robert Ryan's chilling study in psychopathic bigotry scored him his lone Oscar nomination. He's nearly matched in creepiness by Paul Kelly as an odd nightbird married to sultry Gloria Grahame. Two other worthy Roberts — Young and Mitchum — respectively play the police detective and the Army sergeant wondering which of his guys is a murderer. Incidentally, the hot button in the Richard Brooks novel was not anti-Semitism but homophobia — a sweaty subtext in Edward Dmytryk's film. — Richard T. Jameson
Title: Crossfire
Sales Rank: 30677 in DVD
Actor: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Paul Kelly
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Studio: Turner Home Ent, 2005-07-05, Theatrical Release: 1947-07-22
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.33:1
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 85 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.25 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches, 0.18 pounds
- The 3 Roberts caught in a Crossfire
- This film was released the same year as the much touted "Gentleman's Agreement" with Gregory Peck which also dealt with anti-semitism. But this film is the superior of the two because it features an Oscar nominated performance by the under-rated Robert Ryan as the vicious bigoted soldier. He is superb in that role but it also typecasted him almost forever as the… More reviews
- Crossfire
- Gripping, intricate thriller is top-grade noir, with solid performances all around, particularly from Ryan and Young. The film's as biting a condemnation of anti-semitism as the better-known "Gentleman's Agreement", released the same year. Assured, atmospheric direction from Edward Dmytryk makes this an unheralded classic. More reviews
- "Hate is like a loaded gun."
- Crossfire remains one of the best Hollywood message movies because, unlike the admirably intentioned Gentleman's Agreement, which it beat to theatres by a few months, it chooses to send its message via the form an excellent noir thriller rather than have an outraged star constantly saying "It's because I'm Jewish, isn't it?" It's much easier to get the message that… More reviews
- Crossfire
- I was a little disappointed in this film considering the caliber of the actors. I felt the story line was not compelling. More reviews
- A brilliant movie - well ahead of its time.
- This film will surprise you, and make you say "darn, why haven't I heard of this film before." You look at the cover and expect a powerful screen stealing performance from Robert Mitchum, but what you get is a good murder mystery film attacking bigotry and hatred. Robert Young - playing the effective police detective - turns in as fine… More reviews
