ACT OF VIOLENCE: a thriller more taut than something really taut

The name and the face of Robert Ryan should be familiar to any self-respecting admirer of film noir. If you are and they're not you should be ashamed of yourself. Ryan is one of the finest actors ever to grace the genre. He made dozens of movies big and small in the 1940s and 50s in a range of genres and he gave a great performance in everyone one of them but he was never better than when he was prowling the dark streets of film noir-town.
Ryan had a face that was perfect for expressing a tightly coiled anger, bitterness and frustration which could explode into violence at any moment. His expression told us his character's backstory without the need for lengthy exposition - here is a man with a cynical mistrust of anyone who wants to do good; who believes that everyone has a price, and the only way to get ahead is to disregard emotions like compassion, love and consideration for others.
ACT OF VIOLENCE from 1948 is a superb example of his work. Ryan plays Joe Parkson, an embittered ex-soldier out for murderous revenge against his former commanding officer who betrayed an escape attempt by his men to their German captors, resulting in their deaths. Parkson is relentless in his quest and his complete lack of concern for his own welfare makes him an even more unnerving figure.
Van Heflin is equally impressive as the increasingly terrified object of Parkson's obsession. His Frank Enley is a family man, community leader and war hero, hiding a guilty secret from everyone including his naive young wife, played by Janet Leigh. Parkson's reappearance causes a nervous breakdown which takes Enley on a bizarre and disturbing detour through LA's skid row and an encounter with an unrecognisable Mary Astor in a performance so devoid of glamour or beauty that it's disturbing.
Director Fred Zinneman doesn't waste a minute of screen time on unnecessary or self indulgent story-telling. ACT OF VIOLENCE is as taut as a drumskin and totally compelling. In the context of the late 1940s it's also a brave piece of mainstream cinema. At a time when any criticism of the American way of life was increasingly being viewed as unpatriotic and even treasonable, this film dares to suggest that not every American performed nobly and heroically while in uniform; that the pressures of war pushed some to acts of cowardice and treachery, and deformed others mentally as well as physically.
What's even more surprising is that ACT OF VIOLENCE was made by MGM, that flagwaving bastion of patriotic conservatism and home to wholesome stars like Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Ava Gardner.
Tension, terror, a gripping tale, and standout performances - this film has it all. ACT OF VIOLENCE is essential viewing for anyone who claims they're serious about cinema.