Pat O’Brien, Claire Trevor, and Herbert Marshall are involved in a “Crack-Up”

Crack-Up (1946) is an American film noir directed by Irving Reis and starring Pat O’Brien, Claire Trevor, and Herbert Marshall. The supporting cast includes Ray Collins and Wallace Ford.

Art critic George Steele (O'Brien) remembers surviving a train wreck that never took place; it's just the first incident in a growing web of intrigue and murder.

Film critic Leonard Maltin described the film as a “Tense, fast-paced Hitchcockian thriller with many imaginative touches.

 

Irving Reis (1906 – 1953) was a radio program producer and director and a film director. Reis directed several notable and popular films including Hitler’s Children (1943) The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) All My Sons (1948).

Pat O’Brien (1899 – 1983) was an American film actor. O’Brien appeared in more than 100 films, often playing characters of Irish descent. He played cops, priests, and reporters. He was often paired with friend and movie star James Cagney. O’Brien is probably best known for his roles in Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), Knute Rockne, All American (1940), and Some Like it Hot (1959).

Claire Trevor (1910 - 2000) was an American actress who appeared in over 60 movies. She received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dead End (1937), and The High and the Mighty (1954). She won the award for her performance in Key Largo (1948). Trevor got her start on the New York stage and made her film debut in 1933. She also appeared on radio with Edward G. Robinson in the popular radio program Big Town. Trevor’s most famous role is probably Dallas in Stagecoach, but she had other memorable roles in Murder, My Sweet (1944), and Born to Kill (1947). Her last film role was in Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) where she played Sally Field’s mother.

Herbert Marshall (1890 – 1966) was an English actor of stage, screen, and radio. Marshall was a popular leading man during the 1930s and 1940s. He starred opposite Barbara Stanwyck, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and Bette Davis. Some of his films include Trouble in Paradise (1932), The Good Fairy (1935), Foreign Correspondence (1940), The Little Foxes (1941), and The Razor’s Edge (1946).

 

Pat O'Brien, Claire Trevor, and Herbert Marshall

Crack-Up trivia

• Crack-Up was the only film noir from director Irving Reis.
• Laura (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945) also make use of painting and art.
• The film was set in New York City, but several scenes were filmed in Los Angeles harbor.
• Reis directed many of the “Falcon” movies during the early 1940s.

 

Click HERE to watch the film on YouTube.

 

Click HERE to join the online discussion on November 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

Discussion questions

1. Did you like the background of the art world?
2. Was the story believable? Were you able to just enjoy the ride?
3. What did you think of the performances?
4. Did O’Brien and Trevor have good on-screen chemistry?
5. Were you surprised by anything?