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The Noir Collective hosts a Crossfire watchalong tonight

moviesNov 11, 202629374

The Noir Collective hosted a watchalong of Crossfire (1947) tonight, the wartime noir starring Robert Ryan and featuring Robert Young and Gloria Grahame. Viewers praised standout performances by George Cooper, Jacqueline White, Robert Young and Robert Ryan, and several noted the film's brutal, shadowy opening. Participants highlighted Robert Young's anti-xenophobia speech and debated the source novel's plot, where the victim is murdered for being gay, and how the Hays Code forced the film to recast the motive as anti-Semitism. A Blu-ray featurette excerpt was cited in which director Edward Dmytryk says the noir approach grew from limited production time and a desire to work with actors. Commenters marked the timing with Veterans Day and Robert Ryan's birthday, and several thanked the watchalong host for background context and discussion during the screening.

Van Stanwyck
@vanstanwyck.bsky.social

Next week at #TheNoirCollective, we're changing gears, hues and aspect ratio in a huge way. On November 18th, 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, I'll be hosting HELL ON FRISCO BAY (1955), which pits Alan Ladd and Edward G. Robinson against each other and Cinemascope views of San Francisco. Come see who wins!

22Yesterday
Jauntworks Studio Noir Illustration-Erik J Kreffel5

I hear this Ladd guy's pretty good!😉 #TheNoirCollective

CT Million3

Hello, noirmeister lensman Johnny Seitz, one of 20 (!) films he shot with Ladd... and in my hometown! #HellOnFriscoBay #TheNoirCollective

Tommy Krasker
@tommykrasker.bsky.social

I’ve always felt if George Cooper & Jacqueline White weren’t so convincing, the story would grind to a halt at that point. But they are both so freaking good. I’m amazed Cooper didn’t have a bigger career. 🤷‍♂️ #TheNoirCollective #Crossfire

27Yesterday
Jauntworks Studio Noir Illustration-Erik J Kreffel
@jauntworksstudio.bsky.social

Okay folks, hope you enjoyed CROSSFIRE! Thanks for joining me and sticking out the rough beginning! #TheNoirCollective

25Yesterday
Tommy Krasker12

Truly, no one noticed the rough beginning. This was a triumph!! I haven’t seen this film in years, and I’ve always loved it – but seeing it with all of your knowledge and enthusiasm poured into it was a revelation. Congrats, Erik! 👏👏 #TheNoirCollective #Crossfire

LadyKdesigns11

Bravo @jauntworksstudio.bsky.social on a brilliant #TheNoirCollective hosting where the movie is extra dark and BlueSky was BlueSkying! Absolutely enthralling tonight with a wonderful group! See you birds next week...

Van Stanwyck10

Thank you so much for hosting such a fantastic watch party. Not only did you share great nuggets of info, but you handled all these Roberts without mixing up any of them. Bravo, sir! #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

MB Brown7

So good! Thank you for hosting us! #TheNoirCollective #Crossfire

🎞️🎥✨celluloidsoul6

You did a REALLY GREAT JOB! BRAVO! 🙌 I didn't even notice any issues! I guess because I was already having such a fun time! I appreciated what you chose to focus on and boy did I learn some cool new things! I love that everyone's hosting is unique to them. THANK YOU! #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

Gina Dalfonzo6

Thanks very much! Enjoyed hanging out with you and the Roberts! #TheNoirCollective

zoë kaperonis
@zgkap.bsky.social

i need to make sure everyone knows that in the book this is based on, the brick foxhole, the man is murdered for being gay and is primarily about homophobia #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

22Yesterday
Jauntworks Studio Noir Illustration-Erik J Kreffel13

I didn't have enough room for posts about the book vs film, but it's good to remind folks about the headwinds this story faced getting to the screen and how it was sanitized for homophobia. #TheNoirCollective

pmoll.bsky.social7

I wish someone would adapt this with that storyline #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

🎞️🎥✨celluloidsoul4

It's good to make sure everyone knows!

Eduardo
@eddgosbender.bsky.social

the Hays code was so homophobic that allusions to homosexuality on screen were not allowed in any form, so it had to be changed to anti-Semitism, and that is one f*cked up irony given what this movie is about #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

22Yesterday
Joanna
@filmluba.bsky.social

To not know someone, yet hate them enough to kill them. What a sad reality. #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

19Yesterday
🎞️🎥✨celluloidsoul
@celluloidsoul.bsky.social

I LOVVVVE watching Robert Young play it cool with the pipe and the crinkly eyes. #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

16Yesterday
dwayneadd.bsky.social
@dwayneadd.bsky.social

In the Blu-ray featurette, director Edward Dmytryk states that the noir format came about because he didn't have a lot of time to make the film, but what time he did have, he wanted to spend with the actors. These performances are Oscar worthy - & they were nominated. #TheNoirCollective #Crossfire

16Yesterday
CT Million
@ctmillion.bsky.social

Brutal shadowy murder and barroom floozy in the first three minutes… yep, it’s a noir. #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

17Yesterday
Tommy Krasker13

I feel like your checklist is probably full by now. 😅😅 #TheNoirCollective

Library Ang10

My 20-year-old, who usually does not watch noir with me but has seen enough to spot the tropes, was in here asking if she was the noir bad girl, and I said, basically. 🤣😂 #TheNoirCollective #Crossfire

Bruce Fulton
@dbfulton.bsky.social

"You made a mistake, Sergeant, you came to the right house anyway." Tricksie! #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

14Yesterday
pmoll.bsky.social
@pmoll.bsky.social

The three Roberts 😆 What a title card #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

12Yesterday
Gina Dalfonzo
@ginadalfonzo.bsky.social

#VeteransDay and Robert Ryan's birthday? It was meant to be! #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

12Yesterday
Phyll Indablank
@phyllindablank.bsky.social

Here for alll the Roberts (esp. an uncredited Robert Bray 😍) in #Crossfire #VeteransDay 🇺🇸 #TheNoirCollective

12Yesterday
MB Brown
@mbbrownsf.bsky.social

That was such a good speech on xenophobia Young just gave. Straightforward enough for the soldier to understand and convincing enough to move him to help trap Monty. #Crossfire #TheNoirCollective

12Yesterday
Kelston is in Noirvember/ Autumn Mode! 🦃🍁🍂🍂🍂🍁🦃
@kelstoncult.bsky.social

Former president FDR is watching this scene unfold! #TheNoirCollective #Crossfire

12Yesterday

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