Pushover is a 1954 film noir. If you add an E to director Richard Quine’s name, he’s a horse of course of course…

Pushover was my favorite blond bombshell, Kim Novak’s first film. Novak was a reluctant sex symbol and an underrated actress. Bombshells are usually underrated.

The movie also contains one of Fred MacMurray’s finest performances. A nice guy in real life, he preferred to play them onscreen. It’s a pity: he was such a good rat bastard. In Pushover he’s an undercover cop who goes rogue because of a femme fatale. I think you know who that is. Repeat after me: Blond Bombshell.

1954 was a stellar year for MacMurray in rat bastard mode. The Caine Mutiny was released that year as well. Fred should have been nominated for a supporting actor Oscar, especially for this scene in which Jose Ferrer throws a drink at him:

I’ve brought my digressive tendencies to Pulp Fiction Thursday. Let’s get back on track.

Another weird and interesting thing about Pushover is that it was adapted by Roy Huggins from two novels:

Huggins moved the action to film noir world HQ: Los Angeles. Huggins is best remembered as the co-creator of The Rockford Files.

Now that I’ve digressed again, it’s grading time. Pushover is one of the best film noirs of the 1950’s. I give it 4 stars and an Adrastos Grade of A-.

Let’s see some art.

We begin with the long poster followed by two lobby cards.

Again, with the color posters for a shadowy black and white movie. Oy just oy.

That’s nice neighbor Dorothy Malone with Fred and Kim in the video image:

At some point, I’ll do a movie for the Pulp Fiction Thursday reboot that doesn’t have an introduction by Eddie Muller. This is not that time.