I've been a fan of Mickey Rooney ever since I saw him touring in "Sugar Babies" back in the 1970's with Ann Miller and Carol Lawrence. I was pretty young back then, but I was amazed by his buoyancy, energy, and just plain magnetism as an entertainer. Since then, I've searched him out in numerous films and have been amazed at his ability to play a wide range of roles - dramatic, comedic, and musical - over the period of almost 80 years. He's absolutely amazing.
This film is indicative of post-War Mickey Rooney, a down period of his career that was soon to be followed by less-than-memorable roles in "The Atomic Kid" and "Francis in the Haunted House". However, it's interesting to see him in a prototype film noir, and one that has such a multitude of interesting elements. It's this set of elements that helps push "Quicksand" a good notch over average.
First of all, the story really lives up to its name. Dan Brady needs some bucks to impress the blonde waitress down the street - his decision to get the money from his employer's cash register takes him down into a seemingly never-ending maelstrom of trouble. As femme fatale Vera Novak, Jeanne Cagney looks and plays the part that you would expect to fuel Dan's demise. Veteran director Irving Pichel, probably best known as Gloria Holden's goon assistant in "Daughter of Dracula", keeps things hopping at a nice pace that doesn't let up, culminating in an exciting locale chase scene at the end. The locales are well-done and contribute greatly to the sense of seediness that pervades the whole affair.
Particular interest is derived from an oddball supporting cast that really works - Peter Lorre, Wally Cassell, Barbara Bates, David McMahon, Jimmie Dodd, and Jack Elam, among many others. It's hard to say enough about Lorre and his scenes with Rooney, though I would have liked to see more of him. It was a bit of a pleasant shock to see Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, a big name again with the New Orleans/Dixieland Jazz revival of the late 40's. In general, the film is loaded with a steady stream of intriguing bit characters popping up every step of the way.
"Quicksand" certainly isn't the best film noir that I've ever seen, but it's great entertainment on a number of levels. It's now available on DVD, so what are you waiting for? 7 out of 10.
This film is indicative of post-War Mickey Rooney, a down period of his career that was soon to be followed by less-than-memorable roles in "The Atomic Kid" and "Francis in the Haunted House". However, it's interesting to see him in a prototype film noir, and one that has such a multitude of interesting elements. It's this set of elements that helps push "Quicksand" a good notch over average.
First of all, the story really lives up to its name. Dan Brady needs some bucks to impress the blonde waitress down the street - his decision to get the money from his employer's cash register takes him down into a seemingly never-ending maelstrom of trouble. As femme fatale Vera Novak, Jeanne Cagney looks and plays the part that you would expect to fuel Dan's demise. Veteran director Irving Pichel, probably best known as Gloria Holden's goon assistant in "Daughter of Dracula", keeps things hopping at a nice pace that doesn't let up, culminating in an exciting locale chase scene at the end. The locales are well-done and contribute greatly to the sense of seediness that pervades the whole affair.
Particular interest is derived from an oddball supporting cast that really works - Peter Lorre, Wally Cassell, Barbara Bates, David McMahon, Jimmie Dodd, and Jack Elam, among many others. It's hard to say enough about Lorre and his scenes with Rooney, though I would have liked to see more of him. It was a bit of a pleasant shock to see Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, a big name again with the New Orleans/Dixieland Jazz revival of the late 40's. In general, the film is loaded with a steady stream of intriguing bit characters popping up every step of the way.
"Quicksand" certainly isn't the best film noir that I've ever seen, but it's great entertainment on a number of levels. It's now available on DVD, so what are you waiting for? 7 out of 10.