QUICKSAND
US, 1950, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Jeanne Cagney, Barbara Bates, Peter Lorre.
Directed by Irving Pichel.
Quicksand is a brief supporting feature, a moral fable in the tone of the 1950s – crime does not pay.
Mickey Rooney, different from his Andy Hardy image as well as his musicals, is a mechanic in a garage who needs twenty dollars to go on a date with the vampish Jeanne Cagney. This involves him in all kinds of substitutes of money, borrowings, hold-ups, attempted murder and escape to Mexico. Jeanne Cagney is the vamp, a bit like her brother James Cagney in terms of strong and sullen attitudes. Barbara Bates is the sweet girlfriend. Peter Lorre has a role as a sinister manager of a penny arcade.
The film was directed by Irving Pichel who directed a number of religious films including The Great Commandment of 1939 as well as Martin Luther and Day of Triumph.
1.Interesting film of 1950? B-budget? Supporting feature? Moral fable?
2.Black and white photography, Los Angeles, apartments, the garage, nightclubs and penny arcades, the ocean, the pier? An authentic naturalistic feel? The musical score?
3.The title, indication of what was happening to Dan Brady? A moral quicksand?
4.Mickey Rooney as Dan, his work, his friends, chatting in the bar? The encounter with Vera? His coming on to her? Going out, her looking at the mink coat in the window? His relationship with Helen and his saying that she was too good for him, his being afraid to commit? The need for the twenty dollars, asking his boating friend, taking it from the till, the voice-over commenting on what he did? Putting it back when the inspector was looking at it? The outings with Vera, the interactions with Nick, his surliness? The need for the money, the boss and his pressure, the hold-up of the man with all the money, being seen? Giving fifty dollars to Nick? Nick and his blackmail, wanting the car, Dan driving it away? Mackey and his pressure for the car, the money back? The confrontation, the gun, Dan attacking him with the phone cord? The relationship with Helen, using her to escape after the hold-up? Discussions, meeting her, her knowing the truth, wanting to go with him? The car hold-up, the abduction? Talking with the lawyer, his saving Helen? Going to the police? The fact that Mackey was not dead but unconscious? The chase with the police, dropping the gun, his being wounded? Serving his time, the support of Helen, the support of the lawyer? Portrait of an ordinary man and his downfall?
5.Vera, platinum blonde, tough, working in the bar, resisting Dan’s overtures, agreeing, her desire for the mink coat above everything, the outing, with Nick, the confrontation? The hold-up, her support? Holding the money – buying the mink, Dan’s upset? The police coming, her telling everything? Her being taken away?
6.The contrast with Helen, sweet, doting on Dan? Seeing him, supporting him, going away with him? The lawyer? The finale at the pier?
7.Nick, a Peter Lorre sinister character? At the penny arcade, his hold over Vera? The fifty dollars, the hold over Dan, getting the car? His informing the police?
8.The background characters, Mackey and his standover tactics at the garage? The garage men and their work, friendship with Dan? The pursuing and interrogating detectives? Millie and her friendship with Helen?
9.An effective but small-budget fable – of its period?
