MovieChat Forums > Quicksand (1950) Discussion > Quicksand is AWESOME !!!

Quicksand is AWESOME !!!

posted 18 years ago by shotgunnergauge5150
24 replies | jump to latest

This is my first viewing of the movie"Quicksand".Excellent storyline and the great Micky Rooney is at his finest.In fact Rooney makes,and holds the movie in the palm of his hand.A few minor flaws in which Micky waxes over nicely.I can only wonder why Micky was`nt utilized more durring his adult life?He well deserves much credit for carrying what otherwise might have been just an O.K.film.Micky`s character "Dan" is a working man that makes two mistakes many men have and will face throughout their lives.One financial and the other choosing the wrong female What starts out small leads him to get pulled deeper into crime and through hell as a result.The action is fast and furious after the begining.Trust is a big issue in this movie as well as regrets as it is with most people in life.I can pretty much gaurantee anyone of thinking of watching this movie please do so you wo`nt be dissapointed! For me it was AWESOME!!!!

"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006

[–] debdav1 18 years ago

I agree! Great little flick!

[–] jeremy3 18 years ago

There are two things I like about this movie: 1) It was surprisingly down-to-earth. We always think of the 50s in this grandious way. All the movies are so romantic and dreamy. This movie showed things as not being so glamorous. There were regular people struggling to make a living back then. 2) It has relevance. I was really surprised how much easier it is nowadays to get money. In those days, you could really be stuck. Society was more strict.

[–] shotgunnergauge5150 18 years ago

Well said,Jeremy.

"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006

[–] AlanSquier 18 years ago

I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.

This is one of the greatest examples of B film noir I know of. It explores the timeless noir theme of a man who once having made a wrong choice becomes fatalistiically enmeshed in a web he can't escape.

[–] shotgunnergauge5150 18 years ago

I agree.It was a good story with a great actors that made it all work.Peter Lorre thrown in to boot.His performance cannot be overlooked in this little gem.Cagney & Rooney were masterfull as well.I just love the part where Rooney & Lorre briefly struggle to exchange the handkerchief and the stolen car keys.I wonder if they ad-libbed that part.Very neat! Check this noir out folks!Time well spent if you like these sort of flicks in my opinion.
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006

[–] AlanSquier 18 years ago

I can't think of a single Mickey Rooney movie that qualifies as one of the greatest ever movies, but he was hardly ever in a bad movie, and his presence always enhanced the movie.

I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.

[–] shotgunnergauge5150 18 years ago

I agree,very well said.

"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006

[–] kimpunkrock 18 years ago

I agree, this movie is awesome! I actually purchased it twice. Once in a micky rooney set and once in a film noir set. It is definitely worth it.

[–] AlanSquier 18 years ago

I think that one of the most awesome thngs about this movie was the fact that it was an absolute B movie, a movie which always played as a 2nd feature to a major big budget movie, which was made on what was described as "poverty row", and featured two outstanding actors (Peter Lorre being the other besides Rooney) who were having difficulty landing good roles. With all that, it now stands as a more memorable movie than many of the big budget movies it played with.

If anyone here saw the movie when it was first released
in 1950, can you remember what "major" movie you saw it with? I will be surprised if you do.

I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.

[–] kimpunkrock 18 years ago

IN A LONELY PLACE with humphry bogart!!!!!!!!!!

That is what that quote is from.

Is that the movie that played with Quicksand?

The Truth is out there.

[–] AlanSquier 18 years ago

LOL...highly unlikely...that would've been some double feature.

Naw, pals, I didn't mean I know what was the main feature, and I believe in those days the 2nd features weren't attatched to the major ones. The theater manager could pick any 2nd feature he wanted to play wtth the main one.

I was just guessing that anyone who saw Quicksand in 1950 probbly found it more memorable than the film that was wupposed to be the better one of the two.

I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.

[–] kimpunkrock 18 years ago

Oh I see---that quote is just your signature---

my bad.

The Truth is out there.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 17 years ago

A completely idiotic piece of slop! Rooney hated this and I can see why -- stupid, moron mechanic does everything he can to sabotage himself. Whole story was one stoopid circumstance after another. Pure crap!!! And a waste of Lorre, besides.

Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.

[–] badcommand 16 years ago

I've watched plenty of worse idiotic pieces of slop in my time. But then, I really enjoyed this movie, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this.

"Whole story was one stoopid circumstance after another" - yeah, well, most films are not particularly realistic, certainly not compared to my life! It's entertainment, pure and simple, not an attempt at portraying a week in the life of your average American Joe. I agree that Lorre was wasted though, although what he did offer was great.

When I watch a film, the only criteria I judge it by is "did it entertain me?". If yes, it's a good film; if not, well, I'll not watch it again. Quicksand entertained me. Nuff said!

[–] vinidici 16 years ago

Actually, Peter Lorre's career had been in a slump and I heard it was Rooney who bucked for Lorre to be casted with him in "Quicksand."

I disagree it was "a waste of Lorre." It was perhaps the high point during his declining days in Hollywood.

Secret Message, HERE!-->CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've discovered the Secret Message!

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gullwing592003 14 years ago

I thought Mickey Rooney was excellent in a straight dramatic role as Mechanic Dan Brady in "Quicksand". Rooney was very believable as a regular Joe grease monkey attracted to a seductively dangerous woman throwing him into a disastrous downward spiral of seemingly endless financial debts that kept growing & multiplying plunging him deeper & deeper into "Quicksand" shall we say.

I can easily see this situation happening in real life, the real world is full of Dan Bradys getting mixed up with trashy women that can turn a mans life upsidedown into a living financial nightmare. "Quicksand" to me is one of Mickey Rooney's best performances, the story is compelling & keeps your interest & attention all the way through.

Mickey Rooney is a versatile actor who can be funny & serious, I prefer "Quicksand" over the light hearted "Andy Hardy" series & the musicals where he sings & dances. I also prefer his earlier films such as "Hoosier Schoolboy" & the films he did with Spencer Tracy such as "Captains Courageous" & of course "Boys Town".

[–] vawlkee_2000 14 years ago

This is a real gem!
And my god it has a "happy" ending!
Best thing he did was jump into that attorney's car!
It just goes to show you that you don't need a big budget to crank out something that is positively amazing!
5 out of 5 !

[–] Mandy_Rascal 14 years ago

Absolutely LOVED this movie!
Highly recommended.

We love you, Mickey!!!

KyleMonkey :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91yhxK7nyjc

[–] stargazer1701-1 14 years ago

This movie is a gem which I found at a thrift store with a bin full of 3$ DVDs. I found the character of Dan to be unlikable. I didn’t like the way he treated Helen (who was truly his guardian angel)... Vera was fascinating, glamorous and dangerous like Lady MacBeth... I thought the cops too be somewhat militant and frightening. The same goes for the landlady, Minerva Urecal. I loved this film and always adore Peter Lore.

Smoke me a kipper. I’ll be back for breakfast

[–] tseybert 10 years ago

LOVE this movie!

I saw it late at night on TV way back in the 1980s, hanging out with a buddy, and I've never forgotten it. I almost didn't watch it because I didn't think too much of Mickey Rooney back then. But I watched it to see Peter Lorre. (Because he's ALWAYS awesome!)

This changed my mind about Mickey Rooney. (This, and the Twilight Zone where he's a jockey.)

I'm not at all surprised to find so many people popping up on IMDB and talking about how great this movie is.

(And I'm very disappointed that people who don't appreciate it feel it's VITAL that they weigh in and let everyone know that they hate it, and how much they hate it. It's OK not to like it, but I don't get why it's so important to them to be so psychopathic about it. But that's IMDB for you!)

Janet! Donkeys!

[–] shadycady 10 years ago

I really enjoyed watching this film too. I thought it was actually quite good. It can boast of a fine cast too.

The Divine Genealogy Goddess

[–] franzkabuki 9 years ago

It would have indeed been quite awesome if it didn't suddenly pull the punches at the last minute by providing Rooney with a semi-redemptive ending and witholding the ultimate poetic irony of having him shot dead after we've learnt he didn't kill his boss after all. Also, the benevolence this kidnapped lawyer shows him and Helen sort of strains credibility. Otherwise it's an absorbing, authentic-feeling and believably constructed story though - it's perversly fulfilling to watch this archetypal noir sap sink ever deeper the harder he tries to get out of the mess he created for himself, with each new attempt worm his way out ending up in an even greater crime (it very much anticipates A Simple Plan in these regards). Rooney's good and Jeanne Cagney's stupid, vain character makes for a rather memorable femme fatale. Pichel's direction is typically unremarkable, but the story moves forward at such a brisk clip that there ain't much time to ponder stuff like cinematography. Once more, too bad about the ending, but I rate it 7,5/10 anyway.

"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

[–] santosreyesgar-sr 8 years ago

I thought this movie was awesome