Search - Boomerang (Fox Film Noir) on DVD

BOOMERANG!: an ironic title in view of the DVD print histor

ronzo | 05/03/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"
Directed by Elia Kazan, BOOMERANG! is another gem from producer Louis De Rochemont; who earlier, gave us THE HOUSE ON 92nd STREET (1945). As such, it has that docu-drama style that some have called docu-noir. It was shot on location, in Connecticut and New York: the film fibs a little bit, saying that it was shot in the same locations where this true story originally took place. The Alain Silver and James Ursini commentary, however, mentions that the Connecticut footage was actually shot in a nearby Connecticut town.

The plot involves the street shooting of a kindly priest, as night fell. Prosecuting Attorney Henry Harvey (Dana Andrews) is pressured both by the people, who want justice done, and the higher-ups, who are concerned with how they'll look come election time ... if someone isn't found guilty for the crime. So there is a certain amount of the same mob mentality shown in FURY (1936) and the political chicanery illustrated in THE GLASS KEY (1942); though here, it is played realistically.

It is Dana Andrews' show, and he capitalizes on his opportunity. He is also surrounded by a super supporting cast: Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley (in his first big-screen performance), Karl Malden; and even playwright Arthur Miller has a bit-part in a police line-up.

Recommended especially for those who enjoy police procedurals or courtroom dramas."

Ah, Dana!

Z. T. Astner | 03/16/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Bought this dvd for one reason only: Dana Andrews. To me,
he is one of the most enigmatic of all Hollywood actors out of
the forties and fifties. This is not a very good film, which I
had guessed before getting it, but it's not too bad either, and it does
get rather exciting during its last half hour or so - but then, that
half hour belongs entirely to Dana Andrews.

This kind of part, though, is not the one where he shines at his
very brightest(if one should use such words about a man so dark and brooding) since this is not a film noir at all - no-where in
all the books I have on film moir is it really ever mentioned!

Even so - it is a film starring Dana Andrews, and any fan of his
should have a look - can we ever get enough of him?"