Description: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 &qCrossfire 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 ... (more)(less)
"
For some reason it was rather difficult to get a copy of this film. With any film that I have waited for a long period of time it tends to be a rather disappointing experience. That is par for the course with any film junkie.
The film is a little heavy handed with the social commentary and there are a few moments where the film becomes a bit too 'educational'. However, the film manages this element well and leaves me nostalgic for a time when Hollywood put out films with substance."
"Feb.16
"Crossfire" may have headlined top-actors with the same first names, but the story is no biggie. Not hardcore as it should've been. One of the Roberts (Mitchum) didn't even break a sweat. Plus, you could tell who the murderer was right off. "
AFIoscar added this to a list 2 years, 3 months ago
Explore
Join Listal
Movies
TV Shows
DVDs
Music
Books
Games
Lists
Reviews
Images
9 comments
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Watched in 2012
Dear Cinema Diary - Vol 3 E9a - etc 2012
Movies Watched in 2012
My Movie Diary 2011
Academy Award for Best Picture