Act of Violence backdrop
Act of Violence logo
1949·Thriller·1h 22m
7.1
A former prisoner of war, Frank Enley is hailed as a hero in his California town. However, Frank has a shameful secret that comes back to haunt him when fellow survivor Joe Parkson emerges, intent on making Frank pay for his past deeds.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
prostitute
war veteran
prisoner of war
housewife
stalker
revenge
film noir
on the run
informant
post war
hidden truth
fearful wife
man with limp

Cast

Van Heflin
Van Heflin
Frank R. Enley
Robert Ryan
Robert Ryan
Joe Parkson
Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh
Edith Enley
Mary Astor
Mary Astor
Pat
Phyllis Thaxter
Phyllis Thaxter
Ann
Berry Kroeger
Berry Kroeger
Johnny
Taylor Holmes
Taylor Holmes
Gavery
Harry Antrim
Harry Antrim
Fred
Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist
Martha
Will Wright
Will Wright
Pop
Rudolph Anders
Rudolph Anders
German (voice) (uncredited)
William Bailey
William Bailey
Convention Party Drunk (uncredited)

Crew

Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann
Director
Bronislau Kaper
Bronislau Kaper
Original Music Composer
Robert Surtees
Robert Surtees
Director of Photography
Helen Rose
Helen Rose
Costume Designer
Cedric Gibbons
Cedric Gibbons
Art Direction
Edwin B. Willis
Edwin B. Willis
Set Decoration
Sydney Guilaroff
Sydney Guilaroff
Hair Designer
Andrew Marton
Andrew Marton
Second Unit Director
Douglas Shearer
Douglas Shearer
Sound Director
André Previn
André Previn
Conductor

Popular Reviews

19 reviews
Jonathan
Jonathan
Act of Violence
this one really caught me off guard with how heavy it is. i went in expecting a pretty standard noir, but it’s way more about guilt and paranoia than twists or clever plotting. the story slowly peeling back what frank did during the war made everything feel tense in this quiet, creeping way. robert ryan is honestly the standout for me. he feels less like a typical villain and more like a walking reminder that you can’t outrun your past. it’s not the flashiest noir and it moves at an old-school pace, but the mood, the moral weight, and the sense of doom really worked on me.
this one really caught me off guard with how heavy it is. i went in expecting a pretty standard noir, but it’s way more about guilt and paranoia than twists or clever plotting. the story slowly peeling back what frank did during the war made everything feel tense in this quiet, creeping way. robert ryan is honestly the standout for me. he feels less like a typical villain and more like a walking reminder that you can’t outrun your past. it’s not the flashiest noir and it moves at an old-school pace, but the mood, the moral weight, and the sense of doom really worked on me.
Favorite
Comment
Bryce
Bryce
Act of Violence
Your past will come back to haunt you and that same past can kill you in the future. Act of Violence is a very stunning film with film having no real good or evil in it most of these characteds fit into a morally gray excluding the women. I feel like this is just a very dark example of how actions come back to haunt you and how your own survival will end you whole.
Your past will come back to haunt you and that same past can kill you in the future. Act of Violence is a very stunning film with film having no real good or evil in it most of these characteds fit into a morally gray excluding the women. I feel like this is just a very dark example of how actions come back to haunt you and how your own survival will end you whole.
Favorite
Comment
Samsheraz
Samsheraz
Act of Violence
The manhunt no woman can stop
The manhunt no woman can stop
Favorite
Comment
jekk
jekk
Act of Violence
"They were dead and I was eating. Maybe that's all I did it for. To save one man. Me. There were six widows. There were 10 men dead and I couldn't even stop eating."
"They were dead and I was eating. Maybe that's all I did it for. To save one man. Me. There were six widows. There were 10 men dead and I couldn't even stop eating."
Favorite
Comment
Maria
MariaPRO
Act of Violence
Pretty good !! Interesting portrayal of how not every veteran was the same and how it affected them. Specially love the scene with the train, felt very real and really showed how much he had spiraled. Wish they could have shown more flashbacks so the revenge added up lol I was kinda confused about why he wanted revenge so bad (could also be me watching it late and in a rush cause of film class,,, anyways)
Pretty good !! Interesting portrayal of how not every veteran was the same and how it affected them. Specially love the scene with the train, felt very real and really showed how much he had spiraled. Wish they could have shown more flashbacks so the revenge added up lol I was kinda confused about why he wanted revenge so bad (could also be me watching it late and in a rush cause of film class,,, anyways)
Favorite
Comment