Impact (1949) Director: Arthur Lubin Writer: Jay Dratler (screenplay), Dorothy Davenport Starring: Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Charles Coburn, Helen Walker Runtime: 1 hr 51 min (111 minutes) Country: United States Language: English Genres: Film Noir, Crime, Drama, Thriller --- 🧾 Synopsis Walter Williams, a successful San Francisco businessman, survives an attempt on his life orchestrated by his unfaithful wife and her lover. Believed dead, he assumes a new identity in a small town while his would-be killers face justice. But when the law finally catches up, Williams must choose between vengeance and redemption. --- 🎭 Cast Brian Donlevy as Walter Williams Ella Raines as Marsha Peters Charles Coburn as Lt. Tom Quincy Helen Walker as Irene Williams Tony Barrett as Jim Torrance Anna May Wong as Su Lin --- 🎞️ Production Notes Produced independently and later distributed by United Artists. Filmed on location in San Francisco and Idaho, giving the film a blend of urban and rural atmosphere. Arthur Lubin, best known for directing Phantom of the Opera (1943), brought a tight pace and noir-infused style to the production. Public domain status has helped preserve its legacy, making it a common feature in noir box sets and classic film collections. --- 🧠 Trivia Anna May Wong appears in a rare late-career supporting role, a nod to her earlier pioneering status as one of Hollywood’s first Chinese-American stars. Brian Donlevy was frequently cast as tough businessmen or military types, and this role let him play a more vulnerable and complex character. The plot resembles Alfred Hitchcock’s themes of mistaken identity and false accusation, wrapped in classic noir shadows and betrayal. A 4K restoration version has been shown at several film noir retrospectives, due to its crisp cinematography and psychological tension. Often cited as a proto-feminist noir due to Ella Raines’ strong, independent character helping the male lead regain his life. --- #Hashtags #Impact1949 #FilmNoir #BrianDonlevy #EllaRaines #ClassicCrime #NoirCinema #ArthurLubin #FemmeFatale #PublicDomainFilm #VintageThriller #CrimeDrama #HollywoodGoldenAge #MurderMystery #FalseIdentity #RetroCinema