Quicksand

Rating:
Summary: Surprise! CLASSIC Film Noir!
Review: 100% fun film-noir rollercoaster in which Mickey Rooney plays an amoral mechanic who makes one horrible decision after another, getting himself stuck deeper and deeper in the quicksand of his predicament. The plot is hokey, but so satisfying...it includes a great femme-fatale and a swell part played by Peter Lorre. The photography is top-notch, and the San Francisco boardwalk (nighttime, natch)scenery is wonderful. Rooney is actually very good in this...he makes you root for him even though he acts like a jerk all the way through the picture. If you've ever dug yourself into a well of trouble, you'll really relate to this one! Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Quicksand
Review: Automobile mechanic Mickey Rooney spots killer-blonde waitress Jeanne Cagney (Jimmy's sister) working at the local diner and impulsively asks her out. His troubles begin when she accepts. The cash strapped Rooney lifts a $20 bill out of the till at the garage where he's employed. The couple spend a pleasant evening window shop drooling (Jeanne) over a $2000 mink and glaring (Mickey) at ex-boyfriend, husband, or something Peter Lorre at the penny arcade he manages. Trouble arrives the next morning in the person of the garage's accountant, who's a couple of days early and sure to spot the missing double sawbuck. Dark eyed blondes are murder in movies like QUICKSAND, and before you can say "Andy Hardy" Rooney is up to his neck and sinking fast.
QUICKSAND is well crafted and, on its own terms, convincing enough. The toughest pill it has us swallow concerns Rooney. Even if he was pushing 30 when this one was made, he still looks like a baby-faced teenager. You can't blame an actor for being short and young looking, but it makes it hard to believe two beautiful women are interested in him, or that Judge Hardy is letting him stay out long enough to get into all the trouble he gets into in this one. Rooney has always had a sunshine-y, puckish charisma which found no outlet in this dark tale of a life unraveling. In other words, QUICKSAND doesn't play to his strengths.
Lorre fares best and his scenes with Rooney are delightful. Lorre never had to present his bona fides when playing an unsavory character - he oozed sleaze. Coupling his physical assets - short stature, protruding eyes, a decadently foreign accent - with master acting abilities and nearly flawless timing Lorre consistently rose above all but the best of material, as he does so here. I wish his role had been larger. Best scene - while putting the squeeze on Rooney's character, Lorre is told "You must be crazy!" Catching the beat and riding it out to the exact millisecond, Lorre lifts a hooded eyelid and says "No, I don't think so." A pretty flat line on the page, but with Lorre's reading it's the coda to the best scene in the movie. Did I mention it would have been nice if he'd been in more scenes?
The delicately beautiful Barbara Bates plays Rooney's Good Girl ex-girlfriend. In movies like this, Good Girls are usually around just long enough to get jilted in act one. If lucky, they're allowed to throw a pair of sad puppy eye looks at the hero before disappearing. They typically reappear in act three, ten minutes before the closing credits, with either a downy shoulder for a repentant hero to lean on or a funeral to arrange. The Bad Girl, on the other hand, has it all going her way. She gets the juicy act two meat, dresses better, gets her name above the title and her picture on the posters. They're usually given a swollen scene or two to chew on and something to foam at the mouth over before the movie tosses them out. Oh, yeah, and they gets to dress better, too. Most of the time she's the "good" actress, while the other is the "pretty" actress - although with so little business to attend to, it's hard to tell exactly what kind of actress the Good Girl is either way.
Miscast or not, Rooney is decent enough in QUICKSAND, an entertaining and unspectacular film


Rating:
Summary: Mickey Rooneys acting very good as usual but plot weak.
Review: The story line was not up to the standards of a Mickey Rooney film of that era. The story starts off with Rooney oweing $100,00 for a watch and snowballs into a series of crimes that lead to 'murder'. If your not a Mickey Rooney fan save your money and time.

Rating:
Summary: Great little movie
Review: This movie is better than what I thought it would be at first. Mickey Rooney does a outstanding job in this movie. I've been a admirer of Mickey's work for some time now. This isn't his usual nice guy role but he plays his part very well and is very believable. I would recommend this movie for any fan of the great Mick and for anyone who likes a good movie! Very interesting and a cool flick!

Rating:
Summary: An unexpected gem
Review: This underrated film noir is a nail-biter. Mickey Rooney is outstanding, as are Jeanne Cagney (James' sister) and Peter Lorre, as always. Up until the end, when it goes ever so slightly over the top, the film is must-see. It starts out deceptively, but doesn't take long before it's taking the viewer on a roller coaster ride of desperation, greed, and murder. Don't miss it.