Impact
Thriller • Drama • Mystery
Theatrical Release (US)
~ Wanted By Two Women! One For Love! One For Murder! ~
Overview:
After surviving a murder attempt, an auto magnate goes into hiding so his wife can pay for the crime.
Director:
Arthur Lubin
Status:
Released
Language:
English
Buget:
$0.00
Revenue:
Key words:
Cast
Brian Donlevy
~ as ~
Walter Williams
Ella Raines
Marsha Peters
Charles Coburn
Lieutenant Quincy
Helen Walker
Irene Williams
Anna May Wong
Su Lin
Robert Warwick
Captain Callahan
Clarence Kolb
Darcy
Art Baker
Defense Attorney
William Wright
Prosecutor
Mae Marsh
Mrs. King
John Chard
Written 6 year(s) ago
CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
You Might Like
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion
Phenomenon
Convoy
Tabloid
Manon
Manina, the Lighthouse-Keeper's Daughter
Listen, Darling
Johnny Apollo
Air Force One
Pierrot le Fou
Impact, when two things collide.
San Francisco industrial supremo Walter Williams survives an attempt on his life by his two-timing wife's lover, whom ironically is badly burned and killed at the scene himself. As the police think that Williams is the badly burned corpse, his wife is arrested and accused of his murder, with Williams hiding out and plotting revenge in the sleepy back water town of Larkspur, Idaho. But even as Williams finds new hope and re-evaluation of his life, he knows he must go back and reveal all about what happened, which is something that may well prove to be his undoing!
Impact is directed by Arthur Lubin and stars Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Charles Coburn and Helen Walker. The basic plot and story is certainly nothing new, and I will not list them, but other films such as "The Postman Always Rings Twice" spring to mind immediately upon finishing this smashing and enjoyable piece. However, what is definitely in pic's favour is that it's excellently acted (Donlevy and Raines a delight) and that it manages to bring about the main twist without any aura of inevitability hanging over it.
Sitting nicely between film noir and drama, Impact is a film that possibly wouldn't stand up to repeat viewings, yet once viewed I personally feel that it leaves a mark that is most definitely favourable - and I'm not just biased because Ella Raines is stunningly gorgeous here!!! 8/10
This could have been much better had Arthur Lubin not cast the rather wooden, Clark Gable-light Brian Donlevy in the lead role as "Walt Williams", a successful businessman who falls prey to a cunning plot by his scheming wife "Irene" (Helen Walker) and her lover "Jim" (Tony Barrett) to bump him off. When the wrong man comes a cropper, "Walt" keeps his head down in a small Idaho town where he takes up with the local garage owner who needs a decent mechanic. Meantime, able detective "Quincy" (Charles Coburn) has put a strong case together against the wife and as she is about to be put on trial, the new girlfriend "Marsha" (Ella Raines) prevails on "Walt" to return to civilisation and into a maelstrom of legal proceedings. It's just a touch too convoluted, but the last fifteen minutes are quite gripping if a little far fetched. Worth a watch, though, if only for some very classy automobiles.
