Quicksand (1950 film)
Encyclopedia
Quicksand is a United Artists
film noir
starring Mickey Rooney
and Peter Lorre
in a story about a garage mechanic's descent into crime. The film has been described as "film noir
in a teacup... a pretty nifty little picture" in which Rooney "cast himself against his Andy Hardy
goody goody image."
) takes $20 from a cash register at work to go on a date with blonde femme fatale
Vera Novak (Jeanne Cagney
). Brady intends to put the money back before it is missed, but the garage's bookkeeper shows up earlier than scheduled. As Brady scrambles to cover evidence of his petty theft, he fast finds himself drawn into an ever worsening "quicksand
" of crime, each of his misdeeds more serious than the last.
His descent is sped along by his heartless and morally lacking boss Oren Mackay (Art Smith), and the seedy owner of a pinball arcade on Santa Monica Pier
, Nick Dramoshag (Peter Lorre
). Brady and Vera split when Vera purchases a mink coat with money Brady has stolen. Brady's still-loyal but unappreciated former girlfriend Helen (Barbara Bates
) then reenters the scene and tries to woo him back. Later fleeing what he believes will be a murder charge, Brady carjack
s a sedan which happens to be driven by a sympathetic lawyer (Taylor Holmes
).
By movie's end Brady is back with his faithful girlfriend, who promises to wait for him while he spends the next few years of his life in prison. Cast includes Jimmie Dodd
and Minerva Urecal
. A young Jack Elam
, later widely noted as a character actor in Westerns, appears in an uncredited speaking role.
and His Five Pennies are seen and heard in a nightclub scene. Nichols himself is recognizably delivering a few lines, accosting Vera and Dan at the bar a bit later in that same scene. A display box of Bit-O-Honey
candy shown by a cash register; Mackay's car lot where the movie takes place is overlooked by a Bekins building prominently advertising the Bekins moving company; Studebaker
cars and trucks parked fill the lot; Dan's convertible is a Chevrolet
; The booth where Dan and Vera kiss is a 25¢ Photomatic booth; A sailor asking Nick for change wears a US Navy uniform; The Cunocar van driven by the bookkeeper clearly displays the Cunocar Accounting Service logo in several scenes; Dan first tries to get the $20 from an EZ Money check cashing outlet; The bar Dan passes advertises Acme Beer; A stack of Coca Cola crates sit behind Shorty at Bill's place; Arden Ice Cream is sold at the pier (today's Gelson's Markets); The police officer's uniform clearly displays a Santa Monica Police patch; The jeweler sells Dan a Helbros watch, along with the Mackay Garage's wall clock advertising Helbros Watches soon after the film begins are early examples of product placement
. Interestingly, Helbros produced the first electric Mickey Mouse
watch around two decades later (up to then all were wind-up watches). Jimmy Dodd (who plays Buzz) was the original Head Mouseketeer of television's Mickey Mouse Club
around two years later.
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
starring Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
and Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner.He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M...
in a story about a garage mechanic's descent into crime. The film has been described as "film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
in a teacup... a pretty nifty little picture" in which Rooney "cast himself against his Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy was a fictional character played by Mickey Rooney in an MGM film series from 1937 to 1958. Spanning over 20 years, the 16 movies were based on characters in the play Skidding by Aurania Rouverol....
goody goody image."
Plot and cast
Young auto mechanic Dan Brady (Mickey RooneyMickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
) takes $20 from a cash register at work to go on a date with blonde femme fatale
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
Vera Novak (Jeanne Cagney
Jeanne Cagney
Jeanne Carolyn Cagney was an American film and television actress.-Biography:She was born in New York City, the younger sister of film actor James Cagney and actor/producer William Cagney. She married Jack Morrison on June 6, 1953; they had two children...
). Brady intends to put the money back before it is missed, but the garage's bookkeeper shows up earlier than scheduled. As Brady scrambles to cover evidence of his petty theft, he fast finds himself drawn into an ever worsening "quicksand
Quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel consisting of fine granular matter , clay, and water.Water circulation underground can focus in an area with the optimal mixture of fine sands and other materials such as clay. The water moves up and then down slowly in a convection-like manner throughout a column...
" of crime, each of his misdeeds more serious than the last.
His descent is sped along by his heartless and morally lacking boss Oren Mackay (Art Smith), and the seedy owner of a pinball arcade on Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.-Pacific Park:...
, Nick Dramoshag (Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner.He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M...
). Brady and Vera split when Vera purchases a mink coat with money Brady has stolen. Brady's still-loyal but unappreciated former girlfriend Helen (Barbara Bates
Barbara Bates
Barbara Bates was an American actress best known for her role as Phoebe in the 1950 drama All About Eve.-Early life:...
) then reenters the scene and tries to woo him back. Later fleeing what he believes will be a murder charge, Brady carjack
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
s a sedan which happens to be driven by a sympathetic lawyer (Taylor Holmes
Taylor Holmes
Taylor Holmes was an actor who appeared in over 100 Broadway plays in his five-decade career. However, he is probably best remembered for his film roles, which he began in silent movies in 1917. By the 1940s, he was working more on film than on stage...
).
By movie's end Brady is back with his faithful girlfriend, who promises to wait for him while he spends the next few years of his life in prison. Cast includes Jimmie Dodd
Jimmie Dodd
James Wesley Dodd was best known as the MC of the popular 1950s Disney TV show The Mickey Mouse Club, as well as the writer of its well-known theme song, "The Mickey Mouse Club March"...
and Minerva Urecal
Minerva Urecal
Minerva Urecal was an American actressBorn as Minerva Holzer, Urecal was originally a radio and stage performer. She made her film debut in 1933...
. A young Jack Elam
Jack Elam
William Scott "Jack" Elam was an American film actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies .-Early life:...
, later widely noted as a character actor in Westerns, appears in an uncredited speaking role.
Production
Rooney co-financed Quicksand with Peter Lorre but their shares of the profits were reportedly left unpaid by a third partner. Most of the film was shot on location in Santa Monica, California, with exterior scenes at the old Santa Monica Pier. Swing era bandleader Red NicholsRed Nichols
Ernest Loring "Red" Nichols was an American jazz cornettist, composer, and jazz bandleader.Over his long career, Nichols recorded in a wide variety of musical styles, and critic Steve Leggett describes him as "an expert cornet player, a solid improviser, and apparently a workaholic, since he is...
and His Five Pennies are seen and heard in a nightclub scene. Nichols himself is recognizably delivering a few lines, accosting Vera and Dan at the bar a bit later in that same scene. A display box of Bit-O-Honey
Bit-O-Honey
Bit-O-Honey is an American candy bar.It first appeared in 1924 and was made by the Schutter-Johnson Company of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Bit-O-Honey was a new kind of candy bar consisting of six pieces of candy wrapped in wax paper and then packaged in a wrapper. The candy consists of...
candy shown by a cash register; Mackay's car lot where the movie takes place is overlooked by a Bekins building prominently advertising the Bekins moving company; Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
cars and trucks parked fill the lot; Dan's convertible is a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
; The booth where Dan and Vera kiss is a 25¢ Photomatic booth; A sailor asking Nick for change wears a US Navy uniform; The Cunocar van driven by the bookkeeper clearly displays the Cunocar Accounting Service logo in several scenes; Dan first tries to get the $20 from an EZ Money check cashing outlet; The bar Dan passes advertises Acme Beer; A stack of Coca Cola crates sit behind Shorty at Bill's place; Arden Ice Cream is sold at the pier (today's Gelson's Markets); The police officer's uniform clearly displays a Santa Monica Police patch; The jeweler sells Dan a Helbros watch, along with the Mackay Garage's wall clock advertising Helbros Watches soon after the film begins are early examples of product placement
Product placement
Product placement, or embedded marketing, is a form of advertisement, where branded goods or services are placed in a context usually devoid of ads, such as movies, music videos, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the...
. Interestingly, Helbros produced the first electric Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
watch around two decades later (up to then all were wind-up watches). Jimmy Dodd (who plays Buzz) was the original Head Mouseketeer of television's Mickey Mouse Club
Mickey Mouse Club
The Mickey Mouse Club is an American variety television show that began in 1955, produced by Walt Disney Productions and televised by the ABC, featuring a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers. The Mickey Mouse Club was created by Walt Disney...
around two years later.