Fred MacMurray has an extraordinary way of always appearing stupidly out of place and rather awkward, no matter what he does, like almost a permanent loser, maybe because that's the kind of characters he was best at, like in "Double Indemnity". This is the same story but on a smaller scale, and the lady here is different, Kim Novak in her first appearance, and she makes the film. This is like an introduction and rehearsal for "Vertigo", but this is black and white, and there is some real shooting taking place, which doesn't stop at one murder. The main trouble with the film is that it's impossible to understand how Kim Novak can love Fred. Your bets will rather pile up with Plilip Carey as a much more convincing character - Fred is simply hopeless and almost cooked from the beginning. The other lady Dorothy Malone imports some refreshment by her straight personality, and you follow all her scenes with almost keener interest than Kim Novak's , since Dorothy's character is less predictable, and she ultimately does determine the course of the drama.It's not a bad film, but Fred MacMurray will never become a favourite actor with anyone but rather constantly remain something of a bad joke of a stolid actor.

Pushover is only 88 minutes long but it isn't very tightly paced. On the other hand, there are some nice touches. The claustrophobic feel of the picture (no doubt, partly due to the low budget), and the way the protagonist, a police detective (well played by Fred MacMurray) becomes more and more involved in the life of a woman he's observing on a stakeout, are highlights. Kim Novak plays the woman; she's inexperienced but has her usual intensity and sincerity, and of course, she's gorgeous. A small film that has a too-deliberate pace, but some intelligence and that sense of inexorable fate that the best noirs have.

A film worth in its own right. Many echo and repeat a supposed "debt" to "Double Indemnity". Is "North By Northwest" a lesser film because of its "debt" to "39 Steps"? Is "Ran" because of its traces of "Kagemusha"? Etc. That's silly. "Pushover" is noir cinema in its own terms: the cop between badge and dough, a subtle femme fatale, a movie beautifully photographed among shadows at night, a dark urban tone, voyeurism (or is it just police duty?), criminal psychology of ambiguous characters, smart lines and great acting. 88 minutes that will get you for sure. Not to mention the anticipation to "Rear Window"!Or if you just want to know why Kim Novak would later perfectly fit in Hitchcock's "Vertigo", just watch it.

Things looked slicker and brighter in the Fifties Film-Noir's for better or worse, mostly worse. This is a Mid-Fifties entry that is relentlessly suspenseful with edge of your seat anticipation. Almost all Scenes are at night and the rain is constant making this forever trying to break out of that Eisenhower shine and it manages quite well.Kim Novak debuting see-through and bra-less (at least in the first few scenes) is a honey of a trap and good but tainted (his parents did nothing but fight) Cop, Fred MacMurray is just too old and weary to resist such a young, beautiful Babe that also manages to be in proximity of a quarter Million unmarked.This is not great Noir but a fine Character Study and while the Dialog is not as sharp as it could be, it nevertheless is engaging and just Hard-Boiled enough to pass. There is a bit of off-beat Voyeurism tamed by that Fifties (here we go again) softening of a "Girl next door" blossoming Romance, started by a perversion but redeemed and on its way to the White Picket Fence.