esrosedotblog

HATE CRIME

It is hard to place today's Best Film in context. It is the first film done about anti-semitism. It is a ground breaker in the film noir technique. It was a smash hit and won five Oscar nominations.

Crossfire (1947) just came out on DVD. That is why we had to jump back to a 'c' movie.

There is still anti-semitism but nothing like those times. When I went to college in the fifties, I lived in a dorm quad which was mostly Jewish kids. I always wondered if they took a look at my name (Rose) and put me in there. I don't know. A lot of it was by choice I think. Self ghettoization.

Up to that time I had never really known any Jews. I got an immersion course in the culture and also the view from the other side of anti-semitic behaviors and practices.

The film looks at minority hatred as similar to a loaded gun waiting to go off. A simplification but not a bad one. It is easy to see how this film could apply later if the victim was black or even after that, if the victim was gay. They would not have to change much except the victim words.

The story also focuses on post-war malaise. Today it would be called post-traumatic stress. The loss of an enemy and the focus of war for a group of soldiers still waiting to get out. Time on their hands. Feeling the 'snakes'.

The film was directed by Edward Dmytryk (who ironically was blacklisted and fired shortly after this film--add commie to the list of hate objects). He filmed it in 20 days and was able to compensate for a small budget with lots of lighting tricks, shadows, surprise shots and other gimcracks to make up for its cheapness. His bundle of quirks add up to what was to become noir.

Oh, and lots and lots of cigarette smoke. Everywhere. Enough you might worry about the second hand aspect of it.

There is a snappy opening of the murder itself all in shadows playing out on a wall. A lot of flashbacks are used to tell the story. There is some trickery in the story itself but somehow it all works together.

We have three Roberts: Ryan, Young and Mitchum. Ryan was always a slightly scary hair trigger guy and you see him here as the murderer. It is not a whodunnit as much as a willtheyfindoutwhodunnit. Robert Young is other worldly as the burnt out detective. There is no trace of his later 'good' dad and doctor persona.

Then we have Robert Mitchum with his famous face, physique and posture. He is just unbelievable. Raw power. He has a lesser role in this but he is really there when he is on. We saw him all his career. Take a look at the link for a great slideshow of Mitchum photos and 'quotes'.

One of the best was filmed in Boston; The Friends of Eddy Coyle (1973) and we used to shudder when we passed the bowling alley where his character was killed. It was on the expressway so we passed it a lot.

Then there is Gloria Grahame playing a floozie as only Gloria Graham could do. She is not on a lot but when she is, she steals the picture.

We also get Steve Brodie and Sam Levene, both victims of the killer. Brodie was a great character actor and Levene ended up as Nathan Detroit in the original Guys and Dolls.

What else can I say about this film. I am stoking myself up about it. I am almost ready to give it a 5 but it is not that good. The story is thin and a little tricky. But all the rest is great. A 4 out of Netflix 5.

Now go look at the Mitchum slide show. He was arrested for marijuana possession—a terrible charge at the time— and it never nicked his career. Right there you have something to like about him.