Written by: John Paxton
Starring: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Sam Levene
Rating: [4/5]
Sometimes you just need a classic film noir to scratch the itch of watching shady characters try to get away with their crimes. A piece of entertainment that can create twists and reveals that leave you questioning everything you saw prior to being photographed in stark black-and-white cinematography. Crossfire more than scratches that particular itch, as it has everything that makes for a good film noir experience.
With a servicemember found dead in a hotel room, Sgt. Peter Keeley (Robert Mitchum), a former police officer, opts to assist Capt. Finlay (Robert Young) to investigate this murder. As all of the initial evidence points towards Keeley’s friend Mitch (George Cooper), he insists on his innocence, which leads Keeley and Finlay down a trail of clues to find the truth in this matter.
The effort to find the culprit behind the murder in Crossfire has us operating in interesting waters. It takes place in the nation’s capitol and involves servicemembers of the military, which puts an extra magnifying glass of scrutiny on the situation. Especially considering the main suspects involved are fellow servicemembers as well. It draws questions on what transpired to make men who fought beside one another turn around and kill their brother in arms. Keely and Finlay, therefore, must follow the clues to ensure they do not get sidetracked by mistruths.
That’s exactly what they face, but the relationship Keeley has with the first primary suspect, Mitch, puts him in an interesting position. It allows the film to shine a different light on Keeley as a character. His involvement in the case is out of respect for his fallen friend and does not have the same duty as the police officers, which makes him cross the objectivity line. We see this specifically when he meets Mitch in private even when he’s the prime suspect without notifying the police, who would undoubtedly bring him in for questioning. Keeley walks this tight line where he must earn the trust of Finlay and almost navigate his biases. Therefore, it makes him the most intriguing character the film has to offer.
As with most noirs, an element of sexuality exists in this that does not necessarily involve a femme fatale but rather the appearance of scandal. We see this specifically with the whereabouts of Mitch and how he wakes up the night following the death of Samuels in the home of a working girl. Trying to clear his name with an alibi would implicate him in a scandal that would be hard to explain away, especially with his wife getting involved in trying to prove his innocence. It begs the question of whether he would rather reckon with what perception versus reality implicates rather than go to jail for something he did not do.
While this film goes about its story with the typical film noir conventions, it also makes quite the staunch statement about antisemitism when it becomes clear it’s the motive for the murder that occurred. Interestingly enough, originally the intention from the filmmaker was meant for this film to take a firm stance against homophobia, as that was the reason the murder occurred, but the Hays Code would not approve it because of sexual perversion. Therefore, the sights change towards another rampant issue that occurs aplenty now and even then, as the more that gets discovered in the film, the darker it gets. For all of this to happen in the 1940s makes it all the more intriguing.
Bringing this film to life, Crossfire boasts some great performances by its cast, with Robert Mitchum leading the way as Keeley. He brings this strong demeanor with him that allows him to take on this situation with all of his biases attached to it. Robert Ryan as Monty also does very well in the portrayal of a difficult man that has more to do with the murder than he initially leads on. His deception and harshness throughout make him quite the formidable force in the narrative, therefore allowing him to flex his muscles in this role. Then we have Gloria Grahame, who in her limited screentime absolutely dazzles as the controversial woman making Mitch’s alibi difficult to confirm. A strong cast all-around, who each hit their marks with conviction and make their characters very watchable.
Carrying all tenets of what makes film noirs so entertaining, Crossfire delves into various ideas beyond just a simple murder, making these characters think carefully of who they trust. The fact everyone involved served together in the military adds another layer as the relationships become more complex. These actors get some strong material to allow their characters to have gumption in their actions and present the complicated mess many have found themselves in. Everything in this film hits its mark and makes me yearn for a time where these types of films hit the market more often.
