Act of Violence is a 1948 film noir directed by Fred Zinnemann and adapted for the screen by Robert L. Richards from a story by Collier Young, featuring performances by Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, and Janet Leigh.
A lone figure drags his damaged leg across the street in silouhette against the dawn skyline of New York City. Up the rickety stairs and inside a rundown apartment he reaches into a dresser and produces an automatic pistol. The tortured fa...
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Act of Violence is a 1948 film noir directed by Fred Zinnemann and adapted for the screen by Robert L. Richards from a story by Collier Young, featuring performances by Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, and Janet Leigh.
A lone figure drags his damaged leg across the street in silouhette against the dawn skyline of New York City. Up the rickety stairs and inside a rundown apartment he reaches into a dresser and produces an automatic pistol. The tortured face of the man, Joe Parkson (Robert Ryan), dispels any uncertainties as to his intentions. Someone is going to die by his hand.
Against a sunny landscape of new tract homes, Frank Enley (Van Heflin), beloved family man and builder of homes for WWII veterans, is cheered on by his community for his fine character and good works. The little California community of Santa Lisa where he basks in sunshine and praise is as far from New York as day from night and good from evil. Or so it seems. Actually both men, once best friends, share different...
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