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IMDb > Boomerang! (1947)

Boomerang! (1947) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

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Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Richard Murphy (screenplay)
Fulton Oursler (article)
Contact:
View company contact information for Boomerang! on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 April 1947 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It comes back at you again and again!
Plot:
The true story of a prosecutor's fight to prove the innocence of a man accused of a notorious murder. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins more
NewsDesk:
Noir Flicks Stretch Genre Limits
 (From New York Post. 4 September 2008, 10:30 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
A great story presented in a semi documentary mode more (36 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Dana Andrews ... State's Atty. Henry L. Harvey
Jane Wyatt ... Madge Harvey

Lee J. Cobb ... Chief Harold F. 'Robbie' Robinson
Cara Williams ... Irene Nelson - Waitress at Coney Island Cafe
Arthur Kennedy ... John Waldron
Sam Levene ... Dave Woods - 'Morning Record' Reporter
Taylor Holmes ... T.M. Wade
Robert Keith ... Mac McCreery

Ed Begley ... Paul Harris
Philip Coolidge ... Jim Crossman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
E.J. Ballantine ... McDonald - 'Morning Record' Editor (uncredited)
Royal Beal ... Johnson - Police Ballistics Expert (uncredited)
Wyrley Birch ... Father George A. Lambert (uncredited)
Helen Carew ... Annie (uncredited)
John Carmody ... Thomas Callahan (uncredited)
William Challee ... Stone - Harvey's Assistant (uncredited)
Clay Clement ... Judge Tate (uncredited)
Mickey Cochran ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Isabel Cooper ... Church Choir Member (uncredited)
Harry Davis ... Reporter (uncredited)
Pat Dillon ... Bit Role (uncredited)
James Dobson ... Bill - Cub Reporter (uncredited)
Bert Freed ... Herron - Man in Alley Mob (uncredited)
Richard Garrick ... Graham Rogers - Storekeeper (uncredited)
Walter Greaza ... Mayor Swayze (uncredited)
Reed Hadley ... Off-Screen Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Helene Hatch ... Catherine Manion - Cashier, Plaza Theatre (uncredited)
Bern Hoffman ... Tom (uncredited)
Harry Kadison ... Maloney (uncredited)
Joe Kazan ... Paul Lukash (uncredited)
Brian Keith ... Extra (uncredited)
Barry Kelley ... Desk Sgt. Dugan (uncredited)
Mickey Knox ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Ben Lackland ... Commissioner Thomas Benson James (uncredited)
Harry Landers ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Lewis Leverett ... Whitney - Harvey's Assistant (uncredited)
Lester Lonergan ... Eugene Cary (uncredited)
Alan MacAteer ... Herron (uncredited)

Karl Malden ... Det. Lt. White (uncredited)
Ida McGuire ... Miss Roberts (uncredited)
Arthur Miller ... Line-Up Suspect (uncredited)
Anna Minot ... Secretary (uncredited)
Paulene Myers ... Maid (uncredited)
Coby Neal ... Reporter (uncredited)

Frank Overton ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Lawrence Paguin ... Sheriff (uncredited)
George Petrie ... Harry O'Shea - Public Defender (uncredited)
Herbert Ratner ... Investigator (uncredited)
Leona Roberts ... Mrs. Crossman (uncredited)
Sam Rosen ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Anthony Ross ... Warren (uncredited)
Dudley Sadler ... Dr. William Rainsford (uncredited)
Lucia Backus Seger ... Mrs. Lukash - Witness (uncredited)
John Stearns ... Rev. Gardiner (uncredited)
Edgar Stehli ... Ryan - Coroner (uncredited)
Fred Stewart ... Graham (uncredited)
Guy Thomajan ... Ronolo Cartucci - Witness (uncredited)
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Directed by
Elia Kazan 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Richard Murphy  screenplay
Fulton Oursler  article (as Anthony Abbot)

Produced by
Louis De Rochemont .... producer (as Louis de Rochemont)
Darryl F. Zanuck .... executive producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
David Buttolph 
 
Cinematography by
Norbert Brodine 
 
Film Editing by
Harmon Jones 
 
Art Direction by
Richard Day 
Chester Gore 
 
Set Decoration by
Thomas Little 
 
Costume Design by
Kay Nelson 
 
Makeup Department
Ben Nye .... makeup artist
 
Art Department
Phil D'Esco .... associate set decorator
 
Sound Department
W.D. Flick .... sound
Roger Heman Sr. .... sound (as Roger Heman)
 
Special Effects by
Fred Sersen .... special photographic effects
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire .... wardrobe director
 
Music Department
Alfred Newman .... musical director
Edward B. Powell .... orchestrator (as Edward Powell)
 
Other crew
Darryl F. Zanuck .... presenter
Bill Colleran .... assistant: Louis de Rochemont (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
88 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (11999, General Audience)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Film debut of Ed Begley more
Quotes:
Off-Screen Narrator: ...But his everyday work was with the people of his parish, and especially with those who sought his advice and counsel. Since he was a man of God, his labors sometimes led him into the strains and secret places of mens' souls. He was just and forgiving, but he was also a man, and a stern and uncompromising judge of character.
Father George A. Lambert: [Speaking to an anguished-looking middle-aged man] Stop that! Even if I wanted to forgive you, I... I couldn't. It's out of my hands.
[pause]
Father George A. Lambert: Jim, you're a sick man.
Jim Crossman - Killer: But Father, I...
Father George A. Lambert: We've been through it all before. I can't help you - the sanitarium, perhaps...
Jim Crossman - Killer: No, I won't! If... if people would just...
Father George A. Lambert: It's not people, son; it's you. I told you that before. This time, fortunately, no great harm has been done. But the next time... No, I can't let you go any longer; it's got to be the sanitarium. Have you spoken to your mother about this?
Jim Crossman - Killer: [panicked] You wouldn't tell *her*!
Father George A. Lambert: I haven't spoken to anyone.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
America, the Beautiful more

FAQ

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12 out of 16 people found the following review useful.
A great story presented in a semi documentary mode, 26 May 2000
Author: JB-12 from Long Island NY

This film is one of Elia Kazan's early efforts as a director. He presented this story in the semi documentary style pioneered by producer Louis DeRochemont in his "March of Time" short subjects and brought to full length status in Henry Hathaway's "The House on 92nd Street".

In filming this true story, Kazan took his cast and crew to a small Connecticut town similar to the one that the story occurred in. This concept was very effective.

Dana Andrews plays Henry L. Harvey, a Connecticut States Attorney who is prosecuting a particularly sensitive case in which a local revered priest was murdered and a homeless drifter was arrested for the crime after an exhaustive search in which the local police was criticized by both the media and local politicians. When Harvey begins to have some doubts, his case "Boomerangs".

The story is riveting from start to finish and the style Kazan uses adds even more credibility to it. (Kazan used on location filming a few years later in making "Panic in the Streets" and it was just as effective even though the story was fictional).

The acting is first rate. Supporting Andrews is Arthur Kennedy as the suspect, Lee J Cobb as the chief of police, Sam Levine as a reporter who knows all, and Robert Keith as a political leader (his son Brian, who later became a bigger star than his father, has a bit).

"Boomerang!" is a film made during the time when Hollywood was growing up. It's a provocative story about our judicial system that even when viewed today makes you think. And it's done to perfection



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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
What did Crossman do? ian-brown-5
Anatomy of a Murder, Boomerang oddity sametic
A link to the real Henry Harvey-Very interesting!!!! robertgraham61
Boomerang - DVD release cancelled? arhirii-1
Commentary on DVD(which is now available) pb-2
Coming to TCM in Oct 2008 bazooked
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