Crossfire (movie)

Crossfire is a 1947 film which dealt with the theme of anti-semitism, as did that year's Academy Award for Best Picture winner, Gentleman's Agreement.

A Jew is killed by a recently demobilized drunken soldier simply because he is Jewish. The film also addresses the post World War II issue of soldiers being released from the military with no training other than as soldiers. The movie was based on the novel The Brick Foxhole by Richard Brooks, in which the victim was homosexual. The theme of homosexuality was considered too controversial for a film study at that time, however the subject of anti-semitism was highly topical and was therefore substituted. Robert Young and Robert Mitchum had major roles in the film.

Although the film was nominated for five Academy Awards, it did not win any. It has been suggested that this may have been partly due to the refusal by Dmytryk and Scott as members of the Hollywood ten, to testify before the House Unamerican Activities Committee.

Awards

Academy Award Nominations:

• Best Supporting Actor - Robert Ryan
• Best Supporting Actress - Gloria Grahame
• Best Director - Edward Dmytryk
• Best Picture - Adrian Scott, producer
• Best Writing, Screenplay - John Paxton

Cannes Film Festival: 1947 Won - Best Social Film

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See Also: List of movies - List of actors - List of directors - List of documentaries - List of Hollywood movie studios