Thriller

Drama

Mystery

Impact

Cardinal Pictures

United States of America

English

Brian Donlevy

Ella Raines

Charles Coburn

Helen Walker

Anna May Wong

Robert Warwick

Clarence Kolb

Art Baker

William Wright

Mae Marsh

Sheilah Graham

Tony Barrett

Philip Ahn

Glen Vernon

Linda Leighton

Jason Robards Sr.

Erskine Sanford

Ruth Robinson

Lucius Cooke

Tom Greenway

Ben Welden

Hans Herbert

Joel Friedkin

Joe Kirk

William Ruhl

Mary Landa

Harry Cheshire

Dick Gordon

Stuart Hall

Arthur Lubin

Jay Dratler

Dorothy Davenport

Leo C. Popkin

Michel Michelet

Ernest Laszlo

Rudi Feld

Joseph H. Nadel

Michel Perriere

Herschel Burke Gilbert

Arthur H. Nadel

Jacques Mapes

Maurie M. Suess

Maria P. Donovan

Lee Greenway

Hugh McDowell Jr.

Mac Dalgleish

Harry M. Popkin

Helen Lierly

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

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

Cast & Crew

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Cast

Brian Donlevy

Ella Raines

Charles Coburn

Helen Walker

Anna May Wong

Robert Warwick

Clarence Kolb

Art Baker

William Wright

Mae Marsh

Box office

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