Art curator George Steele experiences a train wreck...which may not have actually happened. Is he cracking up, or the victim of a wicked plot?Art curator George Steele experiences a train wreck...which may not have actually happened. Is he cracking up, or the victim of a wicked plot?Art curator George Steele experiences a train wreck...which may not have actually happened. Is he cracking up, or the victim of a wicked plot?
- Man
- (uncredited)
- Man
- (uncredited)
- Nagging Wife on Train
- (uncredited)
- Arcade Patron
- (uncredited)
- Station Agent
- (uncredited)
- Lecture Guest
- (uncredited)
- Dorothy
- (uncredited)
- Man with Drunk
- (uncredited)
- Cop
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe footage of the oncoming train was used again in other RKO films including The Clay Pigeon (1949), Cry Danger (1951) and The Narrow Margin (1952).
- GoofsAlbrecht Dürer's "Adoration of the Magi" (called "Adoration of the Kings" in the film), and the forgery that is passing for it, are shown as paintings on canvas, which people roll up in several scenes. However, the real painting is on a wood panel.
- Quotes
Terry: [opening her car's passenger door] Come on. Get in.
George Steele: No thanks, I'll take a streetcar; I can trust streetcars.
[a policeman's whistle is heard and we see two cops running toward Steele. Steele jumps into the car, and they take off]
George Steele: What's your racket girlie? Whad'ya do for a living?
Terry: I'm outta my head. I drive around in cars picking up psychopathic killers.
[softening]
Terry: Someone has to look after you. I was at a party at Reynolds'. Things began to come apart at the seams. I drove Traybin...
George Steele: [interrupting] I know that.
Terry: OK, you know that. You know everything. You're the great Steele. You walk through brick walls. You...
[she pulls over]
Terry: You can wait here. They're going to put in a streetcar soon. Unless... unless you have some dim idea of what you're doing and want me to help you.
George Steele: I always ask one question of people who want to join my club. Who's Traybin?
- ConnectionsEdited into Cry Danger (1951)
Art curator George Steele (O'Brien) believes he has been in a train crash, but he's told that no such crash has occurred. Is he cracking up, or the victim of something sinister?
I'm not trusting anyone this week.
Out of RKO, Crack-Up is an above average film noir that is apparently under seen. It thrusts George Steele on a crusade to prove he is not losing his mind and on his way to residency at Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital. As he trawls around the city with a foggy head, his thoughts still remembering his service in WWII, he tosses off sarcastic quips and evades tricky situations with guile and ingenuity. Who can he trust though? If anybody?
I'm outta my head. I drive around in cars picking up psychopathic killers.
His journey encompasses a number of locations that are expertly born out for noirish purpose. Smokey steam train, dimly lighted station, a ship of many murky corners, the harbour as well, a penny arcade and of course many damp streets at night that are ripe for conversations; both hushed and threatening. With Reis (The Gay Falcon) and De Grasse (The Body Snatcher) using chiaroscuro effects, the atmosphere is suitably eerie, dovetailing perfectly with George's psychologically paranoid funk.
About as smart as cutting my throat to get some fresh air!
Set to the backdrop of the art world, the narrative has an opinion on art styles and snobbery while wrapping the plot around the crooked line of forgeries. It's not wholly successful for dramatic worth or intrigue, and in fact the visual presentation and very good performances of O'Brien and Trevor deserve a more cohesive story and a motive revelation of the crimes considerably stronger in substance.
However, with its technical attributes most positive, some very well constructed scenes (the train crash sequence is excellent) and noir staples in place (amnesia, shady characters, sleuthing for truth et al), Crack-Up is well worth checking out. 7/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Sep 3, 2013
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Galveston
- Filming locations
- San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA(scenes on the ship - Los Angeles harbor)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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![Pat O'Brien, Herbert Marshall, and Claire Trevor in Crack-Up (1946)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzFlMjVlYjktMjdmOS00Zjg5LTlmNTEtNmRmOWRlODExODhjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTk1MTk0MDI@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)