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      Backfire

      Released Jan 26, 1950 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews 36% 100+ Ratings Audience Score A World War II veteran (Gordon MacRae) and his nurse (Virginia Mayo) search for his buddy (Edmond O'Brien), a reformed hoodlum on the run. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 01 Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Interesting film noir mystery whodunit with a dream-like, visionary tone. Jul 18, 2010 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The acting by MacRae and O'Brien was better than the script deserved, which elevated the thriller into a so-so one. Rated: C+ Sep 26, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      john scavens Backfire is a great movie,great acting,great story and great film noir! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review Russ G Gave up on this about halfway through as it was going nowhere fast and plot devices were all jokes. The lead is really weak. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/31/22 Full Review Joe Horrible movie. The piano playing can peel wall paper. If you dont have a headache but want one, watch this movie. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/20/22 Full Review Tom M Classic noire told in flashbacks ( most good noire is !). O'Brien stands out with suspense until the end. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/03/20 Full Review deke p Good 1950 film noir, crime . VIRGINIA MAYO very good lookin. Takes part in L.A. again. I raised my rating of it one whole star. when saw it again 12.3.2020. Much better than when i watched most of it, except the end, sometime ago. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Average film noir that has some of the usual trappings (flashbacks, twisty plot, chiaroscuro lighting) but doesn't really distinguish itself. Perhaps this is because the lead is played by ho-hum Gordon MacRae who is flat on his back in the hospital for most of the picture, wondering where his ex-Army buddy and future ranch partner, Edmond O'Brien, has disappeared to. O'Brien, a noir veteran (he shot this one between White Heat and D.O.A.) is always a treat to watch but he has less to do here. Virginia Mayo is the helpful nurse who helps MacRae to unfurl the plot whereas Viveca Lindfors is the (faux femme fatale) lounge singer who drives the plot mechanics. Ed Begley (Sr.) makes a solid police captain investigating the homicide of the gambler for which O'Brien is the principal suspect. You get the point: this is the usual man-trying-to-solve-crime-before-the-police plot with a variety of red herrings and generic settings and situations. So, in that regard, this is solid viewing - it just isn't the cream of the crop. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Backfire

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis A World War II veteran (Gordon MacRae) and his nurse (Virginia Mayo) search for his buddy (Edmond O'Brien), a reformed hoodlum on the run.
      Director
      Vincent Sherman
      Production Co
      Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 26, 1950, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 31m
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