{"id":39687,"date":"2017-11-20T12:50:22","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T19:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39687"},"modified":"2022-12-18T16:42:44","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T23:42:44","slug":"crossfire-1947","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39687","title":{"rendered":"Crossfire (1947)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Some of them are named Samuels; some of them have got funnier names.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster-156x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-39688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster-156x300.jpg 156w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster-66x128.jpg 66w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster-768x1479.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster-532x1024.jpg 532w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Poster.jpg 779w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a Jewish man (Sam Levene) is murdered in his apartment after socializing with a group of soldiers in a nearby bar, a detective (Robert Young) investigates the case. While the presumed culprit is a drunken soldier (George Cooper) who visits a dance hall girl (Gloria Grahame) while pining for his wife (Jacqueline White), Cooper&#8217;s anti-Semitic platoon buddy (Robert Ryan) soon arouses suspicion as well.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Edward Dmytryk Films<\/li>\n<li>Gloria Grahame Films<\/li>\n<li>Jews<\/li>\n<li>Murder Mystery<\/li>\n<li>Robert Mitchum Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Ryan Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Young Films<\/li>\n<li>Soldiers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nEdward Dmytryk&#8217;s adaptation of Richard Brooks&#8217; novel <em>The Brick Foxhole<\/em> is notable both as the first B-level film to be nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture of the Year, and for running neck to neck with <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=38850\"><em>Gentleman&#8217;s Agreement<\/em> (1947)<\/a> as one of the first Hollywood movies to openly address anti-semitism. Ironically, Brooks&#8217; novel was actually about homophobia, a topic banned at the time by the Production Code. However, unlike Brooks&#8217; own directorial adaptation of Tennessee Williams&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39488\"><em>Cat On a Hot Tin Roof<\/em> (1958)<\/a> &#8212; which suffers from a fatal loss of sensical motives when Paul Newman&#8217;s homosexuality is taken out of the storyline &#8212; the thematic switch here works fine; it&#8217;s easy to be convinced that anti-Semitism (ever present, albeit often in more subtle forms) might drive a senseless murder like this one. As <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tcm.com\/this-month\/article\/86527%7C0\/Crossfire.html\">Dmytryk wrote in his autobiography<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>After our rough-cut showing to the sound and music department, one of the young assistant sound cutters, an Argentine, complimented me on the picture.<br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s such a fine suspense story,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Why did you have to bring in that stuff about anti-Semitism?&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;That was our chief reason for making the film,&#8221; I answered.<br \/>\n&#8220;But there is no anti-Semitism in the United States,&#8221; he protested. &#8220;If there were, why is all the money in America controlled by Jewish bankers?&#8221;<br \/>\nI stared at him in astonishment. &#8220;That&#8217;s why we made the film&#8221;, was all I could think of to say.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As a <em>noir<\/em>, <em>Crossfire<\/em> works exceptionally well, with each frame maximizing use of light and shadow to heighten the drama and suspense; Dmytryk and his crew managed to get the film made with only 150 set-ups (be sure to listen to the commentary soundtrack on the DVD to learn more about the film&#8217;s production, as well as Dmytryk&#8217;s blacklisting by HUAC). Equally impressive are the stellar performances, most notably by Ryan: check out his soulless eyes as he tells a faux flashback tale to Young, and his chilling scene with terrified Steve Brodie as &#8220;Floyd&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Brodie.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Brodie.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-56187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Brodie.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Brodie-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Brodie-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Brodie-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Grahame is also a stand-out in her supporting role as a world-weary dance hall girl with a mysterious man (Paul Kelly) living in her apartment. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strong performances across the board<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Ryan.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Ryan.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Ryan.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Ryan-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Ryan-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Grahame.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Grahame.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Grahame.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Grahame-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Grahame-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Young.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Young.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Young.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Young-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Young-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dmytryk&#8217;s creative direction<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction1.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction1-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Direction-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>J. Roy Hunt&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-39699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography3.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography3-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Crossfire-Cinematography3-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes &#8212; definitely check this one out. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1784#oscar\">Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0039286\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.combustiblecelluloid.com\/classic\/crossfire.shtml\">Combustible Celluloid Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/71903\/crossfire#articles-reviews?articleId=86527\">TCM Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1659cros.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/qKTfa6-dUDc\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Some of them are named Samuels; some of them have got funnier names.&#8221; Synopsis: When a Jewish man (Sam Levene) is murdered in his apartment after socializing with a group of soldiers in a nearby bar, a detective (Robert Young) investigates the case. While the presumed culprit is a drunken soldier (George Cooper) who visits a dance hall girl (Gloria Grahame) while pining for his wife (Jacqueline White), Cooper&#8217;s anti-Semitic platoon buddy (Robert Ryan) soon arouses suspicion as well. Genres,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39687\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39687"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39687\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88889,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39687\/revisions\/88889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}