Boomerang! is gripping, real-life melodrama, told in semi-documentary style. Lensing was done on location at Stamford, Conn, the locale adding to realism. Based on a still unsolved murder case in Bridgeport, Conn, plot is backed up with strong cast.
Dana Andrews heads the convincing cast. His role is realistic and a top performance job. While carrying a fictional name as state’s attorney, the role, in real life, has its counterpart in Homer Cummings, who went on from the state post to become Attorney-General of the United States. Case on which plot is based deals with murder of a Bridgeport priest and how the prosecuting attorney establishes the innocence of the law’s only suspect.
All the leads have the stamp of authenticities. The dialog and situations further the factual technique. Lee J. Cobb shows up strongly as chief detective, harassed by press and politicians alike while trying to carry out his duties. Arthur Kennedy is great as the law’s suspect.
Popular on Variety
1947: Nomination: Best Screenplay
