Boomerang

Movie DescriptionElia Kazan's brilliant docu-drama about an innocent man brow-beaten into confessing to the murder of a minister. Andrews is the D.A. who decides to dig deeper into what seems like an open-and-shut case. Look for playwright Arthur Miller in the suspect line-up. Based on an article by Anthony Abbott in Reader's Digest.CreditsCast: Dana AndrewsDirector: Elia KazanSynopsisThis melodrama, based on the true story of an unsolved murder, carefully combines fact with fiction in semi-documentary style. When a prosecuting attorney investigates the killing of a Connecticut clergyman, he begins to suspect that the accused man is innocent -- and sets out to prove it. Product Description

Slow-moving but significant film noir

With torture and forced confessions currently in the news, this talky film noir is more relevant now than when it first came out in 1947. Here, an innocent man is railroaded by the legal establishment bent on "solving" a high-profile, politically volatile case. For two days, the man is interrogated while deprived of sleep and food, until finally he cracks and confesses, telling his captors what they want to hear. Dana Andrews, as the earnest, honest District Attorney smells something fishy and works to find out what really happened... But *did* the accused man really do it? As Andrews tries to discover the truth, he is pressured from all sides, and becomes aware of the political corruption that suffuses his town.

Elia Kazan directs an all-star cast (Ed Begley, Lee J. Cobb, Dana Andrews, Karl Malden, Jane Wyatt and numerous character actors). The pacing is slow, and the script is heavy on exposition, but when the heat and pressure increase, the scum rises to the top and the film starts to sizzle. Worth checking out, especially since the issues remain so timely. (Joe Sixpack, Slipcue film reviews) October 5, 2008

boomerang

BOO AMAZON. BOOMERANG has officially been released by Fox and is reasonably priced. Why doesn't Amazon offer it rather then let crooked price gougers offer it at $40.00 and more. Get with it Amazon...this title was released along with MOONTIDE & ROAD HOUSE...BOTH OF THESE YOU OFFER. September 8, 2008

Goes on Sale Again September 2!

Update!! It's in stock and for sale at Amazon Canada at CDN $16.99. Maybe Amazon U.S. can't get this disk. (limited release?)

(I have tried to ask customer service twice why this DVD is not listed. It is listed on Amazon Canada as a pre-order.) This DVD was released once before but it was withdrawn from sale soon after. It is based on a true story-a drifter(who is not guilty)is arrested and charged with the murder of a respected citizen in a small town. This nightmarish scenario is handled wonderfully well in a semi-documentary style by the director Elia Kazan. Dana Andrews gives another excellent noir performance. August 28, 2008

The Boomerang comes back!

Good news: this title is being rereleased in September 2008! A truly apt title indeed. Edited to add: One week from release and this title is still listed only at Amazon.ca. They do ship to the US though...

We'll finally be be able to fill that annoying hole in the Fox Film Noir series on our shelves.

As I recall this is a very good title, in the upper-tier of films noirs, but not quite into the top-tier (like Woman in the Window, Double Indemnity or Night and the City). It's been quite some time since I saw it (on TvOntario Saturday Night I seem to dimly recall or perhaps PBS), but my usually reliable memory indicates this should be a most enjoyable re-viewing.

The previous crop of Fox Film Noir was not the most substantial of the series (Black Widow is somewhat entertaining a times, but not really noir and rather slight). The 3 titles scheduled for early September mark a clear increase in terms of quality and pertinence.

Now if only Fox would finally reissue Lang's Manhunt, which they've been labelling as Coming Soon for ages. July 23, 2008

Solid Murder Drama

This is another of the great Film Noirs from the vaults of 20th Century Fox. Made in 1947 "Boomerang" was the brainchild of the talented producer
Louis deRochemont who began to bring a new semi-documentary style of
picture making to cinema. He strove to give a more realistic look to
films by shooting in actual locations and eschewing the phony indoor
exteriors offered by the studios. "Boomerang" was such a project and was filmed in Connecticut where events in this true story took place.
Splendidly directed by Elia Kazan and sharply photographed in black & white by Norbert Brodine "Boomerang" does indeed have a newsreel look about it especially with it having a narration by Reed Hadley (uncredited). Previously deRochemont had great success with this style of film production when he produced "The House On 92nd Street" two years earlier.
Richard Murphy's taut screenplay for "Boomerang" - from an article in Reader's Digest - was based on an actual incident in Bridgeport, Connecticut where the murder of a kindly church pastor occured. The film recounts the efforts of the town council to bring pressure to bear on the frustrated police department to bring the killer to justice by any and every means.
Dana Andrews gives his usual stalwart performance as the local D.A. who suddenly finds himself going over to the side of the defence when the only and hapless suspect is coerced into signing a confession for the murder.

The movie has a wonderful all involving style to it with beautifully lit and splendidly atmospheric courtroom scenes. And there are uniformly terrific performances throughout from Sam Levene, Robert Keith, Ed Begley, Karl Malden but especially from Arthur Kennedy as the suspected culprit and Lee J. Cobb as the police chief.

A great film that every Noir devotee will want to own. Extras include
a commentary, a poster gallery and a trailer.
Collectors may have some difficulty in acquiring this title as word on
the street has it that there is some licensing problems with the movie's
rights but it is out there with independent sellers and can easily be
obtained from them through Amazon. April 17, 2008

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