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Windbreaker!

  • CROSSFIRE

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    Under discussion:

    Crossfire  (1947)

    I'm plowing through the 2nd Warner Bros noir box, and I agree with JimBell that this is not noir.  In fact, I agree with JB's overall comments too.   

    Something interesting from the short featurette was that budgets in those days were basically 80% for lighting, sets, etc. and 20% with the cast.  The director pulled his lighting expert aside and said he wanted to reverse the traditional budget and spend 80% with the cast.  I think that's why we see such strong performances (except the flat Robert Mitchum, who appears bored throughout) and poor cinematography.  Shadows weren't used expertly for effect, there just wasn't money to buy more bulbs!

    One other thing from the featurette.  There was a comment that the director and producer didn't work together anymore after Crossfire because of their "involvement in the Communist witch hunt".  I don't know the specific history of these 2 individuals, but I hate how noir commentaries on recent DVD releases can't help but reinvent history.  So-and-so was blacklisted, and so-and-so was blacklisted.  WHERE'S THE PROOF ANY OF THESE CATS WERE BLACKLISTED?!  But I digress...  Crossfire is okay. 


 


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