Crossfire (movie)

Crossfire is a 1947 film dealing with anti-semitism, as did that year's best film Oscar winner, Gentleman's Agreement.

A Jew is killed by a recently demobilized drunken soldier simply because he is jewish. The film also addresses the post World War II issue of soldiers being released from the military with no training other than as soldiers. The movie was based on the novel The Brick Foxhole by Richard Brooks, with the difference that in the novel the victim was homosexual instead of jewish. Bigotry, after all, does have its hierarchies. Robert Young and Robert Mitchum had major roles in the film.

Although the film was nominated for five Oscars, it did not win any. It has been suggested that this was partly attributable to the refusal by Dmytryk and Scott as members of the Hollywood ten to testify before the House Unamerican Activities Committee.

• Best Supporting Actor - Robert Ryan
• Best Supporting Actress - Gloria Grahame
• Best Director - Edward Dmytryk
• Best Picture - Adrian Scott, producer
• Best Writing, Screenplay - John Paxton