Crossfire

A landmark Hollywood drama for its sharp look at the touchy subject of anti-Semitic attitudes in the U.S., Crossfire is set in a hotel just after the end of WW II and begins with the murder of a Jewish guest. The prime suspects are a trio of recently returned GIs, and a level-headed detective sets off to find which one of them (if not all of them) is guilty. Robert Ryan gives a fine performance in an underwritten role, but the film is otherwise visually static and somewhat pretentious, lacking a meaningful style and showing little depth. Despite its flaws, the film has some power and caused controversy. Because of the film’s subtext of prejudice and anti-Semitism, filmmaker Edward Dmytryk became one of the first 10 Hollywood figures blacklisted by McCarthy’s House Committee on Un-American Activities., Action thriller in which a former military man goes berserk and leaves a blood-stained trail for the police to follow., Powerful story of GIs involved in a murder, with anti-Semitism as the motive. Capt. Finlay: Robert Young. Sgt. Keeley: Robert Mitchum. Montgomery: Robert Ryan. Ginny: Gloria Grahame. The Man: Paul Kelly. Samuels: Sam Levene. Bowers: Steve Brodie. Mary: Jacqueline White. Harry: Lex Barker. Edward Dmytryk directed., One of the first major-studio efforts to confront anti-Semitism, this Best Picture nominee is a film-noir account of a quartet of GIs who get involved in the murder of a Jewish Army veteran., Stark, claustrophobic thriller about an anti-Semitic soldier who kills a Jewish war veteran, evading detection by dint of his loyal friends’ protection. But a detective is determined that the crime will not go unsolved, and sets about laying a trap for the murderer.