Backfire main backdrop
Backfire main poster

5.8/10 • 28

1950-01-261h 31m

MysteryCrimeThriller

That "White Heat" girl turns it on again!..

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.

Directors
Vincent Sherman
Editors
Thomas Reilly

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Viveca Lindfors

    Viveca Lindfors

    Lysa Radoff

  2. Dane Clark

    Dane Clark

    Ben Arno

  3. Virginia Mayo

    Virginia Mayo

    Nurse Julie Benson

  4. Edmond O'Brien

    Edmond O'Brien

    Steve Connolly

  5. Gordon MacRae

    Gordon MacRae

    Bob Corey

  6. Ed Begley

    Ed Begley

    Capt. Garcia

  7. Frances Robinson

    Frances Robinson

    Mrs. Blayne

  8. Richard Rober

    Richard Rober

    Solly Blayne

  9. Sheila MacRae

    Sheila MacRae

    Bonnie Willis

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Feb 16, 2020

6/10

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

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
war veteranboxerfilm noirmilitary hospital