Overview
A gripping tale of murder and prejudice unfolds as soldiers confront their pasts.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- brooding
- paranoid
- classic noir night
- serious film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a gripping, stylish, socially candid noir distinguished by strong performances and an effective multi-viewpoint flashback structure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Finlay and Keeley pursue the killing of Joseph Samuels while the investigation reveals antisemitic violence and racial bigotry.
Flashbacks present the night’s events from different viewpoints, shading the attitudes and actions of the soldiers.
The suspects and amateur investigator are recently demobilized soldiers whose drinking, loyalty, and violence drive the mystery.
The film is shot entirely at night with expressionist camera techniques that intensify its noir mood.
Films like Crossfire, and why
The Naked City
shared postwar film noir atmosphere, murder investigation, and moral confrontation with prejudice
The Best Years of Our Lives
shared black-and-white noir style, psychologically troubled veterans, and socially conscious crime drama
The Big Sleep
shared hard-edged noir investigation, urban night settings, and institutional exposure of corruption and violence
The Stranger
shared anti-fascist social critique, moral ambiguity, and expressionist crime-drama tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Edward Dmytryk
- Release Date
- 1947-08-15
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (167)
Cast
- Robert Young
- Robert Mitchum
- Robert Ryan
- Gloria Grahame
- Paul Kelly
- Sam Levene
- Jacqueline White
- Steve Brodie
- George Cooper
- Richard Benedict
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Crossfire about?
- A tense postwar noir investigation exposes antisemitism beneath the apparent murder mystery surrounding a group of demobilized soldiers.
- What is Crossfire like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Crossfire as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Crossfire violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Crossfire as brutal.
- What did critics think of Crossfire?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a gripping, stylish, socially candid noir distinguished by strong performances and an effective multi-viewpoint flashback structure.
- Which films are like Crossfire?
- Films with a similar feel include The Naked City, The Best Years of Our Lives, The Big Sleep, and The Stranger.
- How long is Crossfire?
- Crossfire runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Crossfire?
- In United States, Crossfire is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
