the real best picture of 1947 also deal with anti semitism and be superior to elia kazan gentlemens agreement ( the eventual winner at that year academy award ) in practically every department . edmard dmytryk near perfect direction and john paxton terse script and j. roy hunt expert expressionist light be wonderfully abet by a superb ensemble cast . although robert young ( play an easy go and methodical and very likable cop ) and robert mitchum ( who actually do have the occasional throwaway witty remark ) be the nominal star of the film and it oscar nominee robert ryan and gloria grahame as well a paul kelly and in the small but pivotal role of grahame pathetic husband who give the film most memorable characterization while ryan prove so convincing a a homicidal racist that he be eventually typecast for a while and excel in equally villainous role in such film a act of violence ( 1948 ) and catch ( 1948 ) and the racket ( 1951 ) and clash by night ( 1952 ) and the naked spur ( 1953 ) and bad day at black rock ( 1955 ) . the film be also notable for it atypical structure in that ryan flashback sequence and a complete fabrication and be shoot in a straightforward manner while the actual truth emerges from the hazy and distorted recollection of the real protagonist of the film who and furthermore and isn not even play by any of the film star . also and crossfire be originally to have treat homosexuality ( a per richard brook original source novel and the brick foxhole ) but this taboo subject be unacceptable to the hays office at the time a far cry from the situation we have today when ( at least ) 3 gay theme film be in the running for this year major oscar . the print utilize for warner dvd transfer show some regrettable sign of wear and tear at time but the audio commentary by noir expert and james ursini and alain silver and be a good one and even though i do not happen to share their opinion that dmytryk career decline steadily after his huac trouble and a such excellent picture a the sniper ( 1952 ) and the caine mutiny ( 1954 ) and broken lance ( 1954 ) and the young lion ( 1958 ) and warlock ( 1959 ) and mirage ( 1965 ) amply prove while have say that his collaboration at rko with producer adrian scott and screenwriter john paxton murder and my sweet ( 1944 ) and corner ( 1945 while hopefully this will be part of the next film noir box set from warner ) and crossfire do constitute his best work . in any case and in my opinion and the latter be not only one of the key film of the 1940s but also one of the fine noirs ever make and period .