Act of Violence

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Act of Violence ★★½ 1948

Postwar melodrama. Small-town businessman and war hero Frank Enley (Heflin) has a pretty wife (Leigh), a young son, and a good life that gets him recognition. But this brings Frank to the attention of embittered, crippled vet Joe Parkson (Ryan), who's got a beef. Seems both were POWs in a German camp and Enley informed on the men's escape plans, which got everyone but Parkson killed. As Parkson pursues Enley through the seedier sides of L.A., Astor enters the picture as a down-heels dame at a dive bar who offers Enley some assistance that results in a lot more trouble. 82m/B DVD . Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor, Phyllis Thaxter, Berry Kroeger, Taylor Holmes; D: Fred Zinnemann; W: Robert L. Richards; C: Robert L. Surtees; M: Bronislau Kaper.