Act of violence

overview

Act of Violence (1948, Dir. Fred Zinnemann) is an excellent psychological film noir. Both the protagonist (Van Heflin) and the antagonist (Robert Ryan) have come back from the war with damage, and it turns out they were in combat together. Van Heflin has a sunny, happy, successful life, but is carrying a secret burden of some kind. Like Heflen’s character in 3:10 to Yuma, and like Gary Cooper’s character in High Noon, his courage is about to be tested. Robert Ryan’s war damage is embodied by an obviously disabled foot or leg, an injury he seems to carry (Ahab-like) while resolutely pursuing his target.

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NOT READY YET, ON MAY 31, 2024-DAVE