Film Snail

Backfire
Backfire

5.8

Backfire

NR·1950·91m

Summary

When he's discharged from a military hospital, ex-GI Bob Corey goes on a search for his army buddy Steve Connolly. A reformed crook, Connolly is on the lam from a trumped-up murder rap, and Corey hopes to clear his pal. Tagging along is Army nurse Julie Benson, who has fallen for Corey.

Cast

Viveca Lindfors

Viveca Lindfors

Lysa Radoff

Dane Clark

Dane Clark

Ben Arno

Virginia Mayo

Virginia Mayo

Nurse Julie Benson

Edmond O'Brien

Edmond O'Brien

Steve Connolly

Gordon MacRae

Gordon MacRae

Bob Corey

Ed Begley

Ed Begley

Capt. Garcia

Frances Robinson

Frances Robinson

Mrs. Blayne

Richard Rober

Richard Rober

Solly Blayne

Sheila MacRae

Sheila MacRae

Bonnie Willis

David Hoffman

David Hoffman

Burns

Monte Blue

Monte Blue

Det. Sgt. Pluther (uncredited)

Russ Conway

Russ Conway

Police Broadcaster (uncredited)

John Daheim

John Daheim

Bingo - Prizefighter (uncredited)

John Dehner

John Dehner

Blake - Plainclothes Cop (uncredited)

Dick Gordon

Dick Gordon

Party Guest (uncredited)

Fred Kelsey

Fred Kelsey

Fight Fan (uncredited)

Charles Lane

Charles Lane

Dr. Nolan (uncredited)

Ray Montgomery

Ray Montgomery

Attendant (uncredited)

Ida Moore

Ida Moore

Sybil (uncredited)

John Ridgely

John Ridgely

Plainclothesman (uncredited)

Charles Sherlock

Charles Sherlock

Party Guest (uncredited)

Leonard Strong

Leonard Strong

Lee Quong (uncredited)

Helen Westcott

Helen Westcott

Miss Haller - Receptionist at Mortuary (uncredited)

Edward Biby

Fight Fan (uncredited)

Paul Bradley

Paul Bradley

Guest (uncredited)

Joe Gilbert

Fight Fan (uncredited)

James Gonzalez

Club Patron (uncredited)

Creighton Hale

Creighton Hale

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Vinton Hayworth

Vinton Hayworth

Waiter (uncredited)

Jack Hill

Cop at Shootout (uncredited)

J. Louis Johnson

Hommel - Janitor (uncredited)

Charles Jordan

Charles Jordan

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Douglas Kennedy

Douglas Kennedy

Voice Heard on Radio (voice) (uncredited)

Mike Killian

Quong's Doctor (uncredited)

Mike Lally

Mike Lally

Party Guest (uncredited)

Will Lee

Will Lee

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Carl M. Leviness

Carl M. Leviness

Canteen Customer (uncredited)

Max Linder

Canteen Customer (uncredited)

Pierce Lyden

Pierce Lyden

Detective (uncredited)

Philo McCullough

Philo McCullough

Police Car Driver (uncredited)

Jack Mower

Jack Mower

Detective George (uncredited)

Jack Perrin

Jack Perrin

Fremont Hotel Lobby Loafer (uncredited)

Anthony Redondo

Man on Sidewalk (uncredited)

Waclaw Rekwart

Bartender (uncredited)

Harry Seymour

Rocky - Pianist (uncredited)

Frankie Van

Second (uncredited)

Mack Williams

Mack Williams

Dr. Herbert Anstead (uncredited)

Harry Woods

Harry Woods

Dick Manning - Man from Detroit (uncredited)

Clifton Young

Clifton Young

Cabby (uncredited)

Ernest Anderson

Ernest Anderson

James - Party Servant 9 (uncredited)

Santiago Martínez

Waiter (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Vincent Sherman

Screenplay

Ivan Goff

Screenplay

Ben Roberts

Screenplay, Story

Lawrence B. Marcus

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

February 16, 2020

6

I didn't only break his back the last ten days, I broke his heart.

Backfire is directed by Vincent Sherman and collectively written by Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts and Larry Marcus. It stars Virginia Mayo, Gordon MacRae, Edmond O'Brien, Dane Clark, Ed Begley and Viveca Lindfors. Music is by Daniele Amfitheatrof and cinematography by Carl Guthrie.

While recuperating from wartime back injuries at a hospital, veteran Bob Corey (Macrae) is visited on Christmas Eve by a beautiful stranger with a message that his army friend Steve Connolly (O'Brien) is seriously injured and in trouble with the police. Upon release, and aided by his girlfriend nurse, Julie Benson (Mayo), Bob enters the labyrinthine underworld of post war Los Angeles in search of his friend.

The warning signs that this might not be a particularly sparky film noir are evident with the lie on the film's poster. Tantalisingly suggesting Mayo as a femme fatale type, the girl from "White Heat" is anything but since she's literally an angel of mercy. Pic is a trifle of nifty noir moments and awkwardly acted scenarios. That it's needlessly convoluted only makes the problems of the staid script come to light.

The problems faced by returning veterans was a recurring noir theme, and here, even though it's not pushed forward to the maximum, it at least gives the story some psychological heart. It has a good cast, good monochrome photography and is played out with some classic noir staples, but it's not all it can be, compounded by a weak finale that feels like a writers compromise. 6/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

war veteran
boxer
film noir
military hospital