a film like crossfire put another film that spread around it social consciousness i. e. the recent film crash almost to shame . not necessarily because either one put forth it message of intolerance be rotten more significantly ( although i would wager crash throw the hammer down much more thickly in comparison with this ) and but because of how the storytelling and contrivance never get much in the way like with crash . maybe it not really necessary to compare the two and a crossfire be in it core all deep into the film noir vein like it go out of style . it be interest actually to see what the director edward dmytryk say on the dvd interview and where he mention that the budget for the photography be significantly low ( on purpose ) so that more could be spend on the actor and and the schedule go through at a very brisk and quick pace . but then what come off then a be incredible about the picture be that you would think look at many of the lighting set ups that it take a lot to do . just for a small scene and like when robert mitchum keeely first go in for question under the captain robert young the contrast of shadow seamlessly in the room be exquisite . that there be many other light set ups that go even far with so little mark this a something essential in the realm of just the look of the noir period . just take a look at a shot of character on a stairwell and the bar silhouette against them and and see what i mean . but back to the substance part of the film it really a story that consist of a murder mystery and but one that we a the audience do not take long to figure on the answer . it then more about something else then in the mind and soul of a killer that wouldn not be find in a common crime picture then and a there be really no criminal for the most part in the film . there a very calculated risk with this then that character could be too thin just to prop up the ( worthwhile ) message against anti semitism . but dmytryk direction of his top shelf cast and along with a really terrific script by john paxton flesh out the character and least of which for what they should have to not seem too thin alongside the message . and what would a noir be then without some attitude to go along with it . mitchum help that along and even in scene like between him and young where it very much base in the situation of the story moment ( i. e. a detail in the plot ) and by inject a little sly wit into some of the dialog . it may already be there in the line and but he help make the character with a good edge for his scene . then there also robert ryan and who excel at montgomery a a man who you know you do not like much at first and just through his b. s. demeanor and but youre not totally sure about either . then once it start to come clearer ironically through a subjective view point of the suspect mitchell ( george cooper ) at the apartment of the soon to be decease samuels his performance become a great balancing act of be full of crap and also rather frighten in his blind way . it a good performance when also counter with cooper and who have actual personal issue that he face and come forward with regret and humility . it really after the film end that one think about a lot of this and however and and while youre watch the film it more about get into the dialog and the flow of the scene and and in the sometimes stark and overpower camera move on the actor and so the message be in a way secondary . not that it isn not an important one and especially for the time period ( come right off of ww2 ) and but year later it see the actor and even the one that do not get the big marquee status like gloria grahame a ginny ( the femme fatale of the picture and if it could have have time for one which it doesn not ) and william phipps a leroy ( the hick ) and work off one another that stick much strongly in the compacted screenplay . dmytryk be also very wise in choose to limit the musical score be powerful too and a for very long stretch we hear nothing and and mostly when it do come up it incidental to the character surroundings . he could have just a easily go with added musical note on some dramatic scene for emphasis and most specifically the opening audience grabber into the film . by stick clear of that and and get the right attitude and nuance in camera and cast and it uplifts standard in genre material to a very fine and memorable level . my favorite scene would probably go to finley story about an irish immigrant he tell to leroy and where all such element come into place well . it might not come in very high at the top of my favorite noirs and i would still throw down murder my sweet a the director masterpiece in this kind of picture but it assuredly higher in quality than something of the b level too .