Act of Violence (1949)
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90% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(472 ratings)
An unusually disturbing noir from a director better known for more mainstream fare like High Noon and From Here to Eternity, Act of Violence focuses on a WWII veteran haunted by his past. A film that was close to the director's heart, he said that it represented "the first time that I felt… More An unusually disturbing noir from a director better known for more mainstream fare like High Noon and From Here to Eternity, Act of Violence focuses on a WWII veteran haunted by his past. A film that was close to the director's heart, he said that it represented "the first time that I felt confident that I knew what I was doing and why I was doing it." Van Heflin stars as Frank Enley, a contractor living a peaceful life in a small California town, when Joe Parkson, a man who served in the army with him, arrives in the area, intent on killing him. He follows Frank to a lake where he's fishing but is unable to kill him. When a lakeside bartender tells Frank that a man with a limp is looking for him, Frank is frightened, realizing why he has come. He tells his wife, Edith (Janet Leigh), that Joe is a man who spent time with in a Nazi POW camp, who is now mentally ill, and that he intends to avoid him. When Frank goes to Los Angeles for a business convention, Joe arrives at his house and tells his wife that her husband is responsible for his injury and for the deaths of a number of men. Fearing for her husband's life, Edith heads for L.A. with Joe not far behind. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi
- Directed By
- Fred Zinnemann
- Genres
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 21, 1948 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
It is strong meat for the heavy drama addicts, tellingly produced and played to develop tight excitement.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Technically Act of Violence touches all the bases in its circuit chase. But it is as though it were doing it on the strength of a long, foul ball.
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Fred Zinnemann's best movie
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Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A terrific film noir directed by the great Fred Zinnemann. Reflects growing disillusionment with American society linked to the emerging Cold War.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Grim, exciting film noir.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Van Heflin
as Frank R. Enley
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Robert Ryan
as Joe Parkson
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Janet Leigh
as Edith Enley
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Phyllis Thaxter
as Ann Sturges
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Mary Astor
as Pat
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Berry Kroeger
as Johnny
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Taylor Holmes
as Gavery
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Harry Antrim
as Fred Finney
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Connie Gilchrist
as Martha Finney
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Will Wright
as Pop
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Rudolph Anders
as German Voice
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William Norton Bailey
as Ad Lib Drunk
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Margaret Bert
as Bystander
- Barbara Billingsley
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Douglas Carter Beane
as Heavy Jowled Man
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Bill Cartledge
as Newsboy
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Rex Downing
as Teenage Boy
-
Dick Elliott
as Pompous Man
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Mary Jo Ellis
as Bystander
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Everett Glass
as Night Clerk
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Don Haggerty
as Policeman
-
Mahlon Hamilton
as Wino
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Tom Hanlon
as Radio Voice
-
Nicholas Joy
as Mr. Gavery
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Paul Kruger
as Policeman
- Nolan Leary
-
Wilbur Mack
as Ad Lib Drunk
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Mickey Martin
as Teenage Boy
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Howard Mitchell
as Bartender
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Ralph Montgomery
as Man
-
David Newell
as Bystander
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Garry Owen
as Attendent
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Ralph Peters
as Tim the Bartender
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William 'Bill' Phillips
as Veterans
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Andre Pola
as German Voice
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Fred Santley
as Drunk
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Frank J. Scannell
as Bell Captain
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Irene Seidner
as Old Woman
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Phil Tead
as Clerk
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Harry Tenbrook
as Man
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Roland Varno
as German Voice
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Larry Holt
as Georgie Enley
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Phil Dunham
as Ad Lib Drunk
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George Ovey
as Bystander
-
John Albright
as Bellboy
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Jim Drum
as Policeman
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Ann Lawrence
as Bystander
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Fred Datig Jr.
as Bystander
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Cameron A. Grant
as Man
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Dick Simmons
as Veterans
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Roger Moore
as Wino
