Backfire
Directed by Vincent Sherman
Written by Lawrence B. Marcus, Ivan Goff and Ben Robert’s
1950/US
Warner Bros.
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
Police Captain Garcia: [to Sgt. Pluther, who’s firing at a fleeing suspect] Hold it. You’re liable to hit a taxpayer.
The next in the holiday-themed films noir takes place during the holidays, providing some Christmas music and decorations but little relevance to the plot.
Veterans Gordon McCrea and Edmund O’Brien are best buddies and dream of buying a ranch once McCrea gets out of the veterans hospital. McCrea and nurse Virginia Mayo are sweethearts.
O’Brien goes missing and is accused of murder. McCrea conducts his own investigation. With Dana Clark as a friend and Ed Begley as a police detective.
This is one of those movies where the action is constantly interrupted by flashbacks. Not my favorite. Otherwise it’s quite watchable.
