We’re fascinated by movies about corrupt policemen.
However, we like these films Only If the officer in question gets What’s Coming, because a corrupt cop, as you know, represents such an egregious abuse of power.
That’s why we enjoyed Pushover (1954), a gritty film noir about a morally-compromised police officer (Fred MacMurray), who sees his chance to seize cash from a bank robbery, and run away with the criminal’s girlfriend.
When $210,000 is stolen from a bank (approx. 2.19M US today), police set up a stake-out operation to nab the criminals responsible. MacMurray, an exemplary member of the force with an excellent record, realizes this cash could make all his Dreams Come True – if he’s clever enough with his playbook.
MacMurray’s experience on the police force will help him manipulate things to his benefit. All he has to do is work out a few plays, and voilà!
He thinks running two simultaneous plays will be this easy:
In order for MacMurray to double-cross (A) the crooks, (B) his fellow officers, and (C) side-step innocent bystanders, he has to be pretty agile. Sadly for him, there are a lot of Moving Pieces, and, in true noir fashion, the situation quickly Gets Out Of Hand.
MacMurray isn’t the only one with with a playbook. His colleagues also have a carefully timed and coordinated plan. But when questions arise about MacMurray’s behaviour, his team members start to close ranks. MacMurray is so focused on his own plans, he doesn’t even notice.
Like many films noir, it almost feels like Fate has its own playbook that it’s not sharing with anybody, and you don’t know what the play is until it’s too late.
All of these elements make for a brisk crime thriller. But we’ve not even told you the best part, which is a 21-year-old Kim Novak, in her first starring role.
Novak’s character operates a playbook all her own.
Novak is absolutely stunning in this film. She plays a gangster’s girlfriend, so she doesn’t tip her hand easily. She also has the old-soul weariness of a gal who’s been disappointed by dozens of fumbled plays.
For example, in one scene, a man at a bar tries – and fails – to get Novak’s attention, so he slides into the chair beside her:
Man: “I’m afraid I gave you the wrong impression.”
Novak: “I doubt it.”
Man: “No, really. You remind me of someone. Haven’t you ever met me before?”
Novak: “Hundreds of times.”
Novak is as calculating as she is beautiful. She Makes Her Own Rules, even when someone else is buying. She’s the type who’ll take your money and allow you to feel grateful for it.
She has a remarkable presence in this film, which is saying something, considering cast members include Dorothy Malone, E.G. Marshall, and Philip Carey.
You’d never know this was her first big role.
You could say Pushover is a mashup of Double Indemnity (1944) and Rear Window (1954), and it does employ noir elements we’ve seen before.
Even so, nothing in Pushover feels contrived. All the plot twists seem completely organic, from a bystander who gets in the way at the worst possible time, to a police lieutenant who isn’t satisfied with mediocrity.
Plus, director Richard Quine never lets up on the gas. This is a full-on Collision Course with Disaster, where any good news is immediately ruined with bad.
You can’t not see this film, if only for Kim Novak’s first starring role. You can thank us later.
This post is an early entry in The Kim Novak Blogathon, hosted by The Classic Movie Muse.
Pushover: starring Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak, Philip Carey. Directed by Richard Quine. Written by Roy Huggins. Columbia Pictures, 1954, B&W, 88 mins.
Silver Screenings 
Sounds like a pretty good one! Especially since I really enjoyed both Double Indemnity and Rear Window.
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It might seem like a cheap knock-off of both movies, but it has a lot going for it. It zips along quickly – no boring scenes here!
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Kim’s performance sounds especially amazing, now that I’ve read the book Kim Novak: Reluctant Goddess. Apparently, adjusting to the manipulations of Harry Cohn was more than a bit difficult for her.
The book makes her sound quite shy and insecure. Her performances really are amazing. But I’ll blog/vlog more about that. Eventually. 🙂
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I can’t even imagine what it would be like to put up with Harry Cohn, but you’d never know it from her on-screen performances, would you? She’s utterly terrific in this film.
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I’m a fan of noir, but never heard of this movie. I can tell that I’d like it.
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It’s a great flick, with lots of twists and turns. It doesn’t stop for a minute!
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Love the illustration of MacMurray’s playbook! Only saw Pushover for the first time a couple of years ago. It does a great job of slowly and steadily tightening the noose around the neck of the protagonist whose tragic flaw is wanting it all without earning it. Add some memorable bitter, cynical dialog (and of course Kim Novak!), and you’ve got a minor film-noir classic that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves over the years.
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Absolutely! This noir ought to be much better known for so many reasons, as you pointed out. And Kim Novak – she is SO GOOD in this role.
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I have never seen this one, but it sounds like a noir that I’d enjoy. Fred MacMurray was perfect in roles like this and I’ve become a big Kim Novak fan over the last decade. Few actresses combine beauty, toughness, and vulnerability as well as her.
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Rick, you’ve GOT to see this one. It’s become one of my fave noirs.
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Ah, the old double-double cross! And gosh, wasn’t Kim Novak gorgeous!
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Kim Novak is luminous in this film, and she’s completely credible in this role. I was so impressed.
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Great review of a noir I haven’t seen. MacMurray was an under-rated actor, so natural on screen. Often portrayed characters who so willingly accept their tragic fate.
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Agreed. It’s like he’s not even acting in this film. I hope you get the chance to see Pushover. It’s well worth it!
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Terrific post, Ruth! Your diagram of MacMurray’s playbook is a gem 😉 and you’re tempting me to add this to my viewing list for this weekend. Novak is excellent in this movie! It really is hard to believe this was her first big role.
Thanks so much for contributing this fab post to my blogathon! 🙂 When you get the chance, would you mind adding the link to the blogathon so that others can read the entries? I’d greatly appreciate it. Hope you’re having a great weekend!
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Oh for sure – I will definitely add the link when I get back to my computer.
Can’t wait to read the other entries!
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Thanks so much! They have been awesome! 🙂
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I watched this movie many years ago. Kim Novak is one of my dad’s favorite actresses and we used to watch all her movies when my brother and I were kids. I agree with you Kim Novak looks amazingly beautiful in this movie. Thank you so much for sharing Ruth!
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The camera absolutely loved Kim Novak, didn’t it? I’m glad your father introduced you to her films. He obviously had good taste!
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She looks so gorgeous in the photos! I will have to check this out — I’m becoming more interested in film noir, and this sounds like a great one!
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Oh yeah, there’s so much tension in this film. I hope you get the chance to see it – well worth your time.
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This was such an interesting movie. I love the football play diagram you made!
Phyllis Loves Classic Movies
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Thanks! This really is an interesting movie, isn’t it? It deserves to be more well known.
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I definitely want to see this one–it looks very interesting. It could also be titled, “The Perfect Crime.”
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Good idea – it almost was the brilliant, perfect crime. I hope you can see this film. Lots of plot twists!
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I must admit I’m much more a fan of Fred MacMurray in comedies than Fred MacMurray in films noirs or dramas, but I’m ready to give that a chance, because it definitely sounds intruiguing and a worth seeing performance by Novak! I hadn’t heard of the film before so thanks for making me discover it via that great article. 🙂
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This film is kind of a mash-up of Double Indemnity and Reat Window, but once you get past that, it’s a superb film with lots of tension. And Kim Novak is a real pro.
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I’m in a bit of a Fred MacMurray mood, after recently reading Diary of a Movie Maniac’s review of Double Indemnity. He and I agree that MacMurray plays against type amazingly well (and deserves more credit for his versatility), but other than Double Indemnity and The Apartment (a personal favorite of mine!), I wasn’t aware there were any other films in which he takes on a darker edge. Clicked on your post – and, lo and behold! 😉
This film sounds SO GOOD. It looks it, too. I opted out of the Kim Novak blogathon because I am shockingly unfamiliar with her work (and because I was insanely busy at the time, which is why I’m still terribly behind on my reading). To help remedy my lack of knowledge, I watched Robert Osbourne’s in-depth, career-encompassing interview with her on TCM’s YouTube channel. In the briefest of clips, Pushover caught my eye. And I’m happy to get your confirmation that it’s as interesting as it looks. 🙂
Kim Novak was only 21 here? Wow! 😮 Also, “she’ll take your money and allow you to be grateful for it” – ha! 😀
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Oh yes, you should try to see this film if you can. Kim Novak is a real pro here, even though this was her first starring role. And Fred MacMurray is terrific as the desperate cop whose plan unravels in the worst way.
I hope life has settled down for you, and that it’s not so crazy busy anymore. 🙂
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Awww…Thank you so much! ❤ My workplace went through a literal state of emergency around the new year, but everything has resolved well. It sure made me more thankful for the calm and peace of “normal” life. 🙂
I’ll seek this film out, and if/when I get a chance to watch it, I’ll be sure to let you know what I think. 🙂
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