Pushover (1954)

37% of users liked it
(199 ratings)

Two bank robbers get away with 250,000 dollars in unmarked, unrecorded bills, murdering a guard in the process. The police know the leader was Harry Wheeler (Paul E. Richards) and turn their attention to his girlfriend, Leona McLane (Kim Novak), detective Paul Sheridan (Fred MacMurray) arranging to… More Two bank robbers get away with 250,000 dollars in unmarked, unrecorded bills, murdering a guard in the process. The police know the leader was Harry Wheeler (Paul E. Richards) and turn their attention to his girlfriend, Leona McLane (Kim Novak), detective Paul Sheridan (Fred MacMurray) arranging to pick her up in a "chance" meeting at a movie and spend some time with her. After one day, he knows what he needs to -- that she's not in touch with Wheeler, but expects to be -- but he keeps things going between them for three more days. By the time the department has a full surveillance team in place, he can't get her off his mind, and when she discovers that he's a cop and raises the notion of letting events take their course with Wheeler (i.e., him ending up dead) and the two of them keeping the money, he's hooked. Sheridan is fast on his feet and a quick thinker and sees how he might pull this off and get the two of them away clean. But he doesn't bargain for the alcoholism of one of the detectives (Allen Nourse) on the surveillance team, the inquisitive nature of his squad commander (E.G. Marshall), or the attachment that his younger associate (Philip Carey) develops for a nurse (Dorothy Malone) living in the building they're observing. Kim Novak had previously appeared in small roles in some films at RKO, but The Pushover marked her formal introduction to audiences as a star, and she more than lives up to the billing and the buildup she received, her acting ability and her physique easily carrying her end of the picture (she's onscreen alone for long minutes under observation, and is convincingly seductive), while MacMurray gives one of the best performances of his career, rivaling his work in Double Indemnity, The Caine Mutiny, and The Apartment. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Richard Quine
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 6, 1954 Wide
On DVD: Jul 6, 2010

Critic Reviews

Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
Marked by a visual claustrophobia that nicely matches MacMurray's increasingly hemmed-in situation.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Novak does a fine job in her first starring role as a heartless femme fatale who does have a heart after all.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Although it's a reworking of MacMurray's far superior Double Indemnity this is still a decent little crime caper. Kim Novak is utterly ravishing in her first big screen role, showing herself already possessing undeniable screen presence and star charisma. Even if she never… More
Although it's a reworking of MacMurray's far superior Double Indemnity this is still a decent little crime caper. Kim Novak is utterly ravishing in her first big screen role, showing herself already possessing undeniable screen presence and star charisma. Even if she never was the best actress on the block she registers on screen, you eye is drawn to her even when she isn't saying anything. There's also solid support from Phil Carey and Dorothy Malone and efficient direction by Quine. Look very fast for a dark haired Marion Ross in a quick bit walking out of a building with Dorothy Malone.
Randy T

Police detective Paul Sheridan (Fred MacMurray) falls for the uber-hot girlfriend (Kim Novak) of a bank robber that he's tracking. When the girl suggests that they make off with the loot and start a new life of their own, Sheridan starts to contemplate putting a plan together… More
Police detective Paul Sheridan (Fred MacMurray) falls for the uber-hot girlfriend (Kim Novak) of a bank robber that he's tracking. When the girl suggests that they make off with the loot and start a new life of their own, Sheridan starts to contemplate putting a plan together that will leave him with a gorgeous woman and $200,000 cash. For a B-movie that few people have ever heard of and even fewer have ever seen, this is surprisingly good. How is it that a studio could put together two stellar leads in classic 50's film noir style and have it go virtually unnoticed for so long? This is about as underrated as a film ever gets. A true hidden gem.

Cast

            Fred MacMurray as Paul Sheridan

            Kim Novak as Leona McLane

            Philip Carey as Rick McAllister

            Dorothy Malone as Ann Stewart

            E.G. Marshall as Lt. Carl Eckstrom

            Allen Nourse as Paddy Dolan

            Phil Chambers as Briggs

            Alan Dexter as Fine

            Robert Forrest as Billings

            Don C. Harvey as Peters

            Paul Richards as Harry Wheeler

            Ann Morriss as Ellen Burnett

            James Anderson as Beery

            Tony Barrett as Man

            Dick Crockett as Young Man

            Anne Loos as Teller Who Screams

            Mort Mills as Bartender

            Paul Picerni as Dapper Man

            Marion Ross as Young Woman

            Jack Wilson as Detective

            Robert Carson as Bartender

            Mel Welles
            
            Ernst R. von Theumer as Detective

            Richard Bryan as Harris

            Hal Taggart as Bank Executive

            Joe Bailey as Hobbs

            Walter Beaver as Schaeffer

            John DeSimone as Assistant Bank Manager

            John Tarangelo as Boy
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