Act of Violence **** (1949, Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor, Phyllis Thaxter) – Classic Movie Review 5277

Director Fred Zinnemann’s 1949 film noir thriller provides suspense and atmosphere galore as the embittered, vengeful former wartime prisoner-of-war Joe Parkson (Robert Ryan) hunts his former commanding officer, POW traitor Frank Enley (Van Heflin), who betrayed his men’s escape from a Nazi prison camp.

Happily married and living in a US small town, Enley panics when he realises Parkson is in town and leaves for a convention in LA suddenly, but Parkson follows him.

Shot by Robert Surtees in black and white, this MGM B-picture is admirably crafted by director Zinnemann, who keeps it fast paced and realistic, while ensuring sharply incisive performances from the two male stars, plus Janet Leigh as Enley’s wife Edith, Mary Astor as Pat, a femme fatale-style good-time girl, and Phyllis Thaxter as Ann Sturges.

Also in the cast are Phyllis Thaxter, Berry Kroeger, Connie Gilchrist, Nicholas Joy, Will Wright, Taylor Holmes and Harry Antrim.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5277

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