Quicksand

Quicksand

Year: 1950

Runtime: 79 mins

Language: English

Director: Irving Pichel

ThrillerCrimeThrillers and murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramasSuspenseful crime thrillers

When young auto mechanic Dan Brady steals $20 from his shop’s cash register to impress the alluring Vera Novak, he plans to replace it before anyone notices. However, the bookkeeper arrives early, forcing Dan to conceal the theft. His cover‑up quickly spirals, pulling him deeper into a web of crime and danger that becomes difficult to escape.

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Timeline & Setting – Quicksand (1950)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Quicksand (1950). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1950s

Set in a contemporary postwar California, the film captures a lived-in, car-culture era. Daily life revolves around work, small crime, and quick bets on getting ahead. The period mood is noir-adjacent, with sunlit optimism shadowed by desperation and the threat of consequence.

Location

California, Santa Monica

The story unfolds in sunny but gritty Santa Monica, weaving between a busy garage, a pawnshop, a jewelry store, and the noisy Santa Monica Pier. The city serves as a postcard backdrop for a hard-edged crime plot, reflecting postwar California's mix of optimism and risk. The locations feel close-knit and downmarket, underscoring the moral stakes of Dan Brady's choices.

🏖️ Coastal California 🎡 Santa Monica Pier vibe

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:44

Main Characters – Quicksand (1950)

Meet the key characters of Quicksand (1950), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Daniel 'Dan' Brady (Mickey Rooney)

A quick-witted, hard-working auto mechanic who slips from minor petty theft into a spiral of crime. He is impulsive and relentlessly optimistic, yet increasingly aware of the consequences of his actions. Desperation pushes him to take dangerous risks, while a stubborn core of loyalty to friends tests his judgment.

💼 Mechanic 🌀 Impulsive 💰 Desperate ⚖️ Moral-conflicted

Vera Novak (Jeanne Cagney)

A femme fatale who uses her wiles to manipulate Dan and advance her own interests. She flaunts wealth (like a mink coat) and distances herself from consequences, showing little regard for others who get caught in the scheme. Her self-serving choices drive much of the plot's tension and tragedy.

💃 Femme Fatale 🪙 Self-serving 🫶 Manipulative

Nick Dramoshag (Peter Lorre)

The seedy arcade owner who supplies blackmail leverage and a past romantic tie to Vera. He uses information as leverage and pushes Dan toward ever riskier moves. His presence embodies the predatory urban backdrop of the story.

🕵️‍♂️ Schemer 🕷️ Blackmailer 💰 Criminal

Oren Mackey (Art Smith)

The hard-edged garage boss who treats people as commodities and leverages fear to keep control. He demands repayment or legal trouble, and his confrontation with Dan becomes a turning point in the protagonist's trajectory. He represents the ruthless, bottom-line business mentality at the heart of the plot.

💼 Boss 🗡️ Ruthless 🧱 Pressure

Helen Calder (Barbara Bates)

Dan's loyal former girlfriend who sees through his trouble and chooses to stand by him. She acts with quiet moral clarity, offering support and a possible exit route. Her patience contrasts with Vera's self-interest and grounds the story in a personal, emotional dimension.

💞 Loyal 🕊️ Hopeful 🌟 Supportive

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:44

Major Themes – Quicksand (1950)

Explore the central themes of Quicksand (1950), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed sparks the chain of bad decisions that pulls Dan deeper into debt and crime. The urge to outsmart the system leads to risky pawning, theft, and a spiraling plan that forgets the human costs. Each calculated move raises the stakes and tightens the noose around Dan's future.

😰 Desperation

Desperation drives Dan to borrow, steal, and gamble with others' safety for his own survival. The pressure of the 24-hour deadline to repay the watch and the mounting debt twists his judgment. Desperation also strains relationships, pushing Vera to prioritize self-interest over trust or loyalty.

🤝 Loyalty and Betrayal

The film contrasts loyalties—Dan's stubborn, dwindling loyalty to Helen and his more dubious alliance with Vera. Betrayal creeps in as self-serving motives override affection, leading to a climactic reckoning. The tension between who stands by him and who uses him underscored the noir's moral ambiguity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:44

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Quicksand Summary

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Quicksand Summary

Quicksand Timeline

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Quicksand Timeline

More About Quicksand

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Explore More About Movie Quicksand

Quicksand (1950) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Quicksand (1950) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Quicksand (1950) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow