Crossfire

1947 | Drama | 86 minutes | English

Info

Captain Finlay is called to investigate the beating to death of a Jewish man named Joseph Samuels. Finlay suspects the murderers to be Monty and Floyd, two demobilized soldiers who had been drinking with Samuels. Monty and Floyd implicate a third ex-soldier, Mitch. Sergeant Keeley, Mitch’s friend, decides to help with the investigation and clear Mitch. Mitch’s alibi was he spent the night with a pick-up, Ginny Tremaine. Back at the police station, Captain Finlay and Sergeant Keeley suspect anti-Semitism to be the motive with Monty as the prime suspect. Finlay and Keeley set a trap they hope will nab Monty.

Cast

Robert Ryan (Monty) / Robert Young (Captain Finlay) / Robert Mitchum (Sergeant Keeley) / Sam Levene (Joseph Samuels) / Gloria Grahame (Ginny Tremaine)

Why Stream This Film?

Two extraordinary films about anti-Semitism opened that year, Crossfire and Gentleman’s Agreement. Crossfire was nominated for an Oscar; Gentleman’s Agreement won the Oscar. In all fairness, it should have been a tie.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 85%

Accolades

Academy Awards: Nominated, Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Ryan); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Gloria Grahame); Best Director (Edward Dmytryk); Best Screenplay (John Paxton)
National Board of Review: Listed, Top Ten Films of the Year
New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Nominated, Best Film; Best Director (Edward Dmytryk)

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