Impact poster

1949·111 min·Released

Impact

“Wanted By Two Women! One For Love! One For Murder!”

Thriller
Drama
Mystery

After surviving a murder attempt, an auto magnate goes into hiding so his wife can pay for the crime.

6.1(66 votes)

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Impact

Cast & Crew

Brian Donlevy

Brian Donlevy

Walter Williams

Ella Raines

Ella Raines

Marsha Peters

Charles Coburn

Charles Coburn

Lieutenant Quincy

Helen Walker

Helen Walker

Irene Williams

Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong

Su Lin

Robert Warwick

Robert Warwick

Captain Callahan

Clarence Kolb

Clarence Kolb

Darcy

Art Baker

Art Baker

Defense Attorney

William Wright

William Wright

Prosecutor

Mae Marsh

Mae Marsh

Mrs. King

Sheilah Graham

Sheilah Graham

Sheilah Graham

Tony Barrett

Tony Barrett

Jim Torrence

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John Chard

Written on 8/18/2019

Impact, when two things collide. San Francisco industrial supremo Walter Williams survives an attempt on his life by his two-timing wife's lover, whom ironically is badly burned and killed at the scene himself. As the police think that Williams is the badly burned corpse, his wife is arrested and accused of his murder, with Williams hiding out and plotting revenge in the sleepy back water town of Larkspur, Idaho. But even as Williams finds new hope and re-evaluation of his life, he knows he must go back and reveal all about what happened, which is something that may well prove to be his undoing! Impact is directed by Arthur Lubin and stars Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Charles Coburn and Helen Walker. The basic plot and story is certainly nothing new, and I will not list them, but other films such as "The Postman Always Rings Twice" spring to mind immediately upon finishing this smashing and enjoyable piece. However, what is definitely in pic's favour is that it's excellently acted (Donlevy and Raines a delight) and that it manages to bring about the main twist without any aura of inevitability hanging over it. Sitting nicely between film noir and drama, Impact is a film that possibly wouldn't stand up to repeat viewings, yet once viewed I personally feel that it leaves a mark that is most definitely favourable - and I'm not just biased because Ella Raines is stunningly gorgeous here!!! 8/10

CinemaSerf

Written on 7/9/2022

This could have been much better had Arthur Lubin not cast the rather wooden, Clark Gable-light Brian Donlevy in the lead role as "Walt Williams", a successful businessman who falls prey to a cunning plot by his scheming wife "Irene" (Helen Walker) and her lover "Jim" (Tony Barrett) to bump him off. When the wrong man comes a cropper, "Walt" keeps his head down in a small Idaho town where he takes up with the local garage owner who needs a decent mechanic. Meantime, able detective "Quincy" (Charles Coburn) has put a strong case together against the wife and as she is about to be put on trial, the new girlfriend "Marsha" (Ella Raines) prevails on "Walt" to return to civilisation and into a maelstrom of legal proceedings. It's just a touch too convoluted, but the last fifteen minutes are quite gripping if a little far fetched. Worth a watch, though, if only for some very classy automobiles.

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Impact

Impact