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Sables mouvants

Original title: Quicksand
  • 1950
  • Approved
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Peter Lorre, Mickey Rooney, Barbara Bates, and Jeanne Cagney in Sables mouvants (1950)
Quicksand: I Know Nothing
Play clip1:28
Watch Quicksand: I Know Nothing
1 Video
32 Photos
Film NoirCrimeDramaRomance

After taking 20 dollars from his employer to go on a date with plans to repay it the next day, an auto mechanic falls into increasingly disastrous circumstances for more and more money which... Read allAfter taking 20 dollars from his employer to go on a date with plans to repay it the next day, an auto mechanic falls into increasingly disastrous circumstances for more and more money which rapidly spirals out of his control.After taking 20 dollars from his employer to go on a date with plans to repay it the next day, an auto mechanic falls into increasingly disastrous circumstances for more and more money which rapidly spirals out of his control.

  • Director
    • Irving Pichel
  • Writer
    • Robert Smith
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Jeanne Cagney
    • Barbara Bates
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Irving Pichel
    • Writer
      • Robert Smith
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rooney
      • Jeanne Cagney
      • Barbara Bates
    • 91User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Quicksand: I Know Nothing
    Clip 1:28
    Quicksand: I Know Nothing

    Photos32

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    Top cast29

    Edit
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Dan
    Jeanne Cagney
    Jeanne Cagney
    • Vera
    Barbara Bates
    Barbara Bates
    • Helen
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Nick
    Taylor Holmes
    Taylor Holmes
    • Harvey
    Art Smith
    Art Smith
    • Mackey
    Wally Cassell
    Wally Cassell
    • Chuck
    Richard Lane
    Richard Lane
    • Lt. Nelson
    Patsy O'Connor
    Patsy O'Connor
    • Millie
    John Gallaudet
    John Gallaudet
    • Moriarity
    Minerva Urecal
    Minerva Urecal
    • Landlady
    Sidney Marion
    • Shorty
    Jimmie Dodd
    Jimmie Dodd
    • Buzz
    • (as Jimmy Dodd)
    Lester Dorr
    Lester Dorr
    • Baldy
    Kitty O'Neil
    • Madame Zaronga
    Frank Marlowe
    Frank Marlowe
    • Watchman
    Alvin Hammer
    Alvin Hammer
    • Auditor
    Ray Teal
    Ray Teal
    • Motorcycle Officer
    • Director
      • Irving Pichel
    • Writer
      • Robert Smith
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews91

    6.62.8K
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    Featured reviews

    7bobbobwhite

    Always liked narrated films best

    Good crime noir story with a highly energetic(what's new?) Mickey Rooney in the lead role. He also narrated the film and tied together well all loose ends. Great Santa Monica Pier chase scene at the end with a well conditioned Rooney doing all his own stunts. Top camera-work in B&W, with all the light and shadows of great noir. Peter Lorre was his terrific evil, slimy self in a small role, and Jimmy Cagney's sister Jeanne was stiffly effective as Rooney's self-centered girlfriend.

    Not a wasted second in the action, and it moves along at breakneck speed as Rooney plays this 40s-50's typical noir morality tale of how criminals typically go from the first petty crime all the way to the worst crimes and finally end up in prison, but always have nice girls waiting for them when they get out.

    Interesting to note that almost all his crimes were witnessed, and had the cops on him almost before he finished committing them. Not quite the case in the real world as "nobody sees anything" today and most crimes go unsolved. Don't you wish all crimes were so easily solved as in this film? It would be a very different world than the one we have.
    7Anne_Sharp

    Andy Hardy goes rotten

    One of the lesser-known treasures of classic film noir, this tough little chronicle of a hapless boy taken on a criminal joy ride by his own uncontrollable lusts succeeds partly because of the brick-house design of Cornell Woolrich's original story, partly because of its ingeniously chosen cast. Pairing the still fresh-faced Mickey Rooney with the creepily worn-looking Jeanne Cagney instantly suggests corruption; the subtext that the boy is just a pawn in a weird game being played between this nasty dame and her lover (Peter Lorre, looking one drink over the line) makes the spine crawl.
    7rvbunting-1

    Mickey Rooney- Actor

    It is entirely true that Mickey Rooney was cast in many poor, meaningless films, and I include the entire Andy Hardy series in that category. However, he was cast with many good actors, and he learned his craft well. It's when you separate Mickey Rooney from Andy Hardy that you realize that he was a very good actor, despite the diminutive stature and the complete counterpoint to "good looks".

    In "Quicksand", Rooney gives a solid, professional performance, aided by good writing and a fine supporting cast. Watching scenes with Rooney and Peter Lorre is a lesson in acting, for they both hold their ground and don't give an inch. Jean Cagney shows much of her big brother's creepy instigative powers as she puts Rooney through deeper and deeper trouble.

    It's a good film, a "sleeper" and one to be seen and enjoyed.
    7hitchcockthelegend

    Quicksand as a movie doesn't get stuck in a quagmire.

    Quicksand is directed by Irving Pichel (The Most Dangerous Game/ Destination Moon) and written by Robert Smith. It stars Mickey Rooney, Jeanne Cagney, Barbara Bates & Peter Lorre. Lionel Lindon photographs it around Santa Monica, California, and Louis Gruenberg scores the music.

    Auto mechanic Dan Brady (Rooney) fancies himself as a ladies man, so when he sets eyes on sultry looking blonde Vera Novak (Cagney), he just has to date her. Intending to put it back tomorrow, Dan borrows $20 from the till of the garage where he works, the money to be used for the date with Vera. However, with Vera comes baggage, not only in what she wants out of Dan, but in the form of her ex-boss Nick Dramoshag (Lorre), who has designs on Vera too. Pretty soon Dan finds that his life is getting out of control as he gets in deep with robbery and maybe even murder?.

    Quicksand was received coldly back on its release, a generation of film goers had grown accustomed to Rooney lighting up the screen as Andy Hardy and turning in frothy performances in musicals. Here he goes against type, and the public wasn't ready for it, even tho he arguably gives one of his best career performances. As a film it's a very tight piece. The plot is in the classic noir tradition of having a male protagonist trapped in a downward spiral, no matter what he does, each decision he makes is a wrong one and only worsens his situation. That there's a blonde femme fatale (Cagney is sexy in a powerful way, with shifty glances telling so much) sat at his side as his life goes belly up; still further fuels the darker edges of the film noir feel. There's a devilishly bitter irony hanging over proceedings, too, that Dan could have escaped all this if he had not spurned the attentions of the more homely, but loyal, Helen (an adorable Bates). The film, and tone, is also boosted by Lorre turning in one of his sleazy sloth like performances, while a mention is warranted for Art Smith as Dan's boss, Oren Mackay, the kind of boss you could easily punch for fun.

    We possibly could have done with some more noirish artistry from Lindon for his photography, but he does OK, with a parking lot/back alley pursuit well shot. While Gruenberg's score is right in tone, especially the theme tune piece, which has a distinctly Cape Fear edge to it. It would come as no surprise to me to find that Bernard Herrmann had watched and listened to Quicksand prior to scoring the Mitchum & Peck classic. Look out too for Red Nichols and His Five Pennies band during a club scene, it's a nice touch that adds a bit of period detail. Clocking in at nearly 80 minutes, Quicksand doesn't hang around, it's briskly paced and suspenseful into the bargain. Certainly it's minor film noir, but all things considered, it's one of the better B's from this most wonderful of genres. 7.5/10
    wsureck

    Thriller of errors

    Above average, often underrated low budget film noir of a somewhat pleasantly restrained Rooney who finds himself in escalating hot water stemming from his "borrowing" $20 from his employers cash register. (He's a mechanic at a car dealership)

    Instead of a comedy of errors, the film is rather a thriller of errors with Rooney making honest and dishonest mistakes/decisions that build on each other from scene to scene to a point that Rooney is desperate to get out of the hot water he finds himself in at every turn. He's in trouble with his nasty boss, his money hungry girlfriend (Jeanne Cagney), the police, a sleazy (Peter Lorre)amusement park gameroom owner, etc...

    He's caught in a whirlpool of lies, deceit, and lust (for a snobish/vampish girlfriend who is never satisfied) and a hunger for the money that he feels will get him out of all his trouble. He doesn't appreciate and is callous toward the wholesome girl (ex-girlfriend ??) who seems to want him despite his faults. He's a lot more interested in the allure of the bombshell Jeanne Cagney instead and is bored by Ms. Wholesome.

    Rooney biographies claim that Mickey didn't think much of this film since it didn't do much to revive his sagging career in the early 1950's. Still, there's a lot to recommend it...with solid acting, atmospheric black and white photography and staging, especially of the amusement park and oceanside locale.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Mickey Rooney co-financed the film with Peter Lorre.
    • Goofs
      When the lawyer is sitting in his car talking to Dan and Helen at the Santa Monica pier the reflection of one of the camera crew is visible in the driver's three-quarter window.
    • Quotes

      Landlady: Serves you right, you hussy!

    • Alternate versions
      There is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA srl, "SABBIE MOBILI (1950) + THE CHASE (Incatenata, 1946)" (2 Films on a single DVD), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.
    • Connections
      Edited into Your Afternoon Movie: Quicksand (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Low Bridge, Everybody Down
      aka "Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal"

      Lyrics and Music written by Thomas S. Allen

      Performed by Sidney Marion

      (uncredited)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Quicksand
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA(Pier scenes.)
    • Production company
      • Samuel H. Stiefel Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 19 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Peter Lorre, Mickey Rooney, Barbara Bates, and Jeanne Cagney in Sables mouvants (1950)
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