Watch Pushover

Pushover is a gripping noir thriller that was released in 1954, directed by Richard Quine and starring Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak and Philip Carey. Max Monetti (Fred MacMurray) is a veteran police detective who becomes embroiled in a twisted and dangerous romance with a beautiful woman named Lona McLane (Kim Novak) while investigating a bank robbery. Max quickly finds himself caught between his loyalty to the police force and his love for Lona, who is the girlfriend of the bank robber. Max's entanglement with Lona sets off a chain of events that could destroy everything he has worked so hard for.

The film opens with Max and his partner, Paul Sheridan (Philip Carey), staking out a bank that they believe is about to be robbed. The robbery takes place, and the robbers escape, leaving Max and Paul to chase after them. Max is the first officer on the scene and sees the robbers' getaway car drive off. He follows the car to a garage and arrests one of the robbers, who is badly injured. Max decides to wait for the second robber to return and in the meantime, meets Lona, who lives in the next apartment.

During their conversation, Max discovers that Lona is the girlfriend of the escaped bank robber, Harry Wheeler. Max embarks on a dangerous flirtation with Lona, who is keen to get Harry away from the police dragnet. Max, who is becoming increasingly disenchanted with his job, begins to look for a way to help Lona and Harry escape from the city. However, Paul is suspicious of Max’s involvement with Lona and begins his own investigation into the case.

Meanwhile, Max's own personal problems are worsening. The new police commissioner, Carl Bessmer, is determined to clean up the force and has no tolerance for the kind of corruption that Max is being drawn into. The situation is complicated further by Max's involvement with another woman, Ann Stewart (Dorothy Malone), who is in love with him but quickly loses interest when she discovers Max's affair with Lona.

As Max tries to cover his tracks and help Lona and Harry escape, he becomes convinced that he is the only one who can save them from being caught by the police. Ironically, Max's own actions lead to a series of events that put him in danger from both Harry and the police.

Pushover is a fine example of the classic noir genre, full of twists, turns, and surprises. Fred MacMurray delivers a solid performance as Max, a man who finds himself caught in a web of his own creation. Kim Novak is perfectly cast as Lona, the femme fatale whose seductive charm is the catalyst for Max's downfall. Philip Carey, as Max’s partner Paul, brings a gritty authenticity to the film.

Overall, Pushover is a suspenseful and thought-provoking movie that explores themes of loyalty, love, and corruption. The ending is a satisfying and unexpected twist that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. Pushover is a must-see for fans of the classic noir genre, and a great introduction for those who are new to this type of film.