Fred Zinnemann does it again. He was a master at film noir during the early '40s, first with some B-films (GRAND CENTRAL MURDER, THE KID GLOVE KILLER--both starring VAN HEFLIN) and some seven or eight years later with ACT OF VIOLENCE. His direction and Robert Surtees' excellent B&W photography make this taut story even more watchable.
VAN HEFLIN goes on a fishing trip and finds himself being shadowed by a man he knows wants to kill him--a man who knows about his past when they were both soldiers and imprisoned in a German prison camp during World War II. When ROBERT RYAN shows up at Heflin's home to inquire about his whereabouts, his wife JANET LEIGH willingly tells Ryan where to find him, not knowing the truth about her husband's past.
From there on, it's a manhunt and at first our loyalties are with Heflin, until it turns out that he's not the hero but an anti-hero who deserves being shot. After this registers, we understand why Ryan is so intent on his mission to kill. Toward the end, Heflin runs into MARY ASTOR, a prostitute with a heart of gold, who tells him what he needs to do to get a hit man get rid of Ryan. But then Heflin, before the kill, has a change of mind. That's all the wrap-up on the story I'll give here.
There's a final twist at the end, but the whole film is absorbing and well worth your time with Heflin, especially, giving one of his most intense performances and Mary Astor doing a vivid job in a small role.
VAN HEFLIN goes on a fishing trip and finds himself being shadowed by a man he knows wants to kill him--a man who knows about his past when they were both soldiers and imprisoned in a German prison camp during World War II. When ROBERT RYAN shows up at Heflin's home to inquire about his whereabouts, his wife JANET LEIGH willingly tells Ryan where to find him, not knowing the truth about her husband's past.
From there on, it's a manhunt and at first our loyalties are with Heflin, until it turns out that he's not the hero but an anti-hero who deserves being shot. After this registers, we understand why Ryan is so intent on his mission to kill. Toward the end, Heflin runs into MARY ASTOR, a prostitute with a heart of gold, who tells him what he needs to do to get a hit man get rid of Ryan. But then Heflin, before the kill, has a change of mind. That's all the wrap-up on the story I'll give here.
There's a final twist at the end, but the whole film is absorbing and well worth your time with Heflin, especially, giving one of his most intense performances and Mary Astor doing a vivid job in a small role.