IMPACT

US, 1949, 111 minutes, Black and white.
Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Charles Coburn, Helen Walker, Anna May Wong, Robert Warwick, Sheila Graham, Mae Marsh, Philip Ahn.
Directed by Arthur Lubin.

Impact is a successful film noir of 1949. It has a central character, a businessman, played by Brian Donlevy, who loves his wife (Helen Walker) and has no idea that she is planning his death. The plan goes completely wrong and the ‘other man’ is killed in a car crash while Brian Donlevy is able to hitchhike to Idaho and stay undercover for three months, working in a garage, reassessing his life, working with the owner of the service station, Ella Raines. Charles Coburn has a good role as a genially crusty old detective. 30s star Anna May Wong has a good role as the maid who is crucial in giving testimony. Journalist and broadcaster Sheila Graham appears as herself – not looking at all like Deborah Kerr playing her in the 1962 Beloved Infidel with Gregory Peck.

The film was directed by Arthur Lubin, best known for comedies including six of the Francis the Talking Mule films as well as over a hundred episodes of the television Mr Ed.

1.The style of film noir post-World War Two? The 40s style, visual, editing and pace? Crime, the victim, the femme fatale, the twists?

2.Black and white photography, San Francisco, homes and streets, business? Idaho, the small-town life? The musical score?

3.The title, the dictionary meaning, the collision of two people – for good or for ill?

4.The voice-over commentary, the meaning of the title, the characters, action?

5.The business world, the meeting, Walter Williams as a force, voicing the decision of the board, their acquiescence? All going well for him? The acquisition of the new company?

6.Irene, her lifestyle, her professions of love? Not wanting to go on the trip with Walter, her toothache? Staying at home? Walter and his gift for her, his imitating the attacking voice, the accident of the vase breaking? The maid overhearing it – and her unwillingness to give this testimony because of her devotion to Walter? Irene and her setting up of the cousin, the plan, her going to the hotel, her slipping out undetected? The suitcase, the note at the hotel, the telegram and her writing – and this later used as evidence?

7.Walter, the car, meeting Jim Torrance? Driving, the attack, the crash, Torrance beating Walter? His not dying? His going up the hill? The audience seeing Torrance in the car, the truck, the crash? The presumption that his body was Walter’s? Walter and the lift, the briefcase in the truck? The police search for Torrance?

8.Irene, her grief, the discussions with Lieutenant Quincy? Her cover-up? Her later arrest, in prison?

9.Walter, going to Idaho, the doctor helping him, fixing the car, the work for Marsha? Boarding with her, friendship with her mother? A new life, life in the town, his being busy with the repairs? The chance to reassess his life?

10.Marsha, strong, her husband dead in the war, the service station, business, Walter fixing the car? At home, ordinary life in the town, the months passing, church? Falling in love?

11.Newspapers, Marsha’s mother finding the truth? Walter telling Marsha the truth? Her going back with him to San Francisco to help?

12.His return, the newspapers and his survival, the twist with his arrest for Torrance’s murder? Irene and her refusing to testify for him, her condemning him? Her resentment about being in prison? The evidence against Walter, the trial?

13.The police chief, his suspicions, not believing Walter’s story?

14.Quincy, an old detective, crusty, pleasant? His interviewing Irene, the questions? Meeting with Marsha, their search for information? Tracking down the maid in Chinatown, her uncle and his protecting her? Finally finding her, her saying she could not testify because it would lead to Walter’s condemnation? The lead for the hotel, the key in the coat, their finding the note at the hotel, the staff identifying Irene, the suitcase and the clothes?

15.Producing this evidence in court, Irene found out? Walter being saved from the guilty verdict?

16.The theme of vindication – and the optimism for the future?