crossfire be ostensibly a murder mystery but what distinguish it from other similar movie of the period be the killer motive and which be anti semitism . the story highlight example of the kind of ignorance which fuel bigotry and contains reference to a hillbilly and an irish immigrant who also suffer maltreatment because of their ethnicity . the movie plot be base on richard brook novel call the brick foxhole which be about a hate crime where the victim be gay . it ironic that this story about a form of intolerance should be meet with intolerance by the censor who stipulate that and for the screen version and the type of bigotry involve should be change to anti semitism . another irony be the behaviour of a soldier who seem fiercely proud of have serve in a war against the nazi and yet embrace their hatred of jew . the director and producer of this movie also suffer another type of intolerance when they be blacklist after be call to appear before the house un american activity committee . all these point just seem to underline the deeply entrench and intractable nature of the whole problem of bigotry a depict in this movie . when police captain finlay ( robert young ) investigate the murder of joseph samuel ( sam levene ) and he discover that on the night when he be kill and samuel have be socialise with a group of soldier and one of these and corporal arthur mitch mitchell ( george cooper ) be quickly identify a the prime suspect . further information be also gather from montgomery ( robert ryan ) who be another of the soldier who be present that night and sergeant keeley ( robert mitchum ) who a friend of mitchell . keeley and with the help of some other soldier and then search for mitchell and when he find him and hear his account of what he do on the night of the murder include his meeting with a dance hall hostess call ginny tremaine ( gloria grahame ) . keeley help michell to avoid be arrest and try to identify the murderer . ginny tremaine be question but her information be insufficient to prove mitchell innocence but finlay investigation lead him to recognise the motive for the crime and subsequently and he set up an elaborate trap which lead the real culprit into expose his own guilt . crossfire be a movie with a message and the identity of the murderer be reveal at a very early stage in the story . the message be convey in a way which be and no doubt and appropriate for the period in which it be make but by today standard seem rather heavy hand . the cinematography by j roy hunt be just wonderful with low key lighting and creative use of numerous strategically place table lamp combine to evoke a look which be perfectly compatible with the drama be play out on screen . despite it be a low budget production and crossfire be a great box office success and benefit from have an absorbing and very relevant story with a marvellous cast and two of whom be nominate for academy award for best support actor ( robert ryan ) and best support actress ( gloria grahame ) . the additional nomination for edward dmytryk ( best director ) and producer adrian scott ( best picture ) and john paxton ( best writing and adapted screenplay ) be just further evidence of the positive recognition which this movie justifiably receive .