ACT OF VIOLENCE (1948)

On the surface, this feels like a typical film noir, concerned with themes of betrayal, guilt, revenge, destiny, and redemption, but unlike most noirs, it's not about or set in the criminal underworld. Van Heflin, a successful building contractor living in a small town, has built a good suburban life for himself, his wife (Janet Leigh), and his children. One day, he realizes he is being stalked by a crippled man (Robert Ryan) and escapes to a nearby big city where he is befriended by a gold-hearted whore (Mary Astor) and a hitman (Berry Kroeger). We discover that Heflin and Ryan were prisoners of war together and Heflin betrayed a group of men who were planning an escape; he did it thinking he was doing good, but the men were all killed except Ryan who has set out to avenge his fellow soldiers. Phyllis Thaxter, Ryan's girlfriend, tries to talk him out of his vow of revenge, Kroeger closes in on Ryan in an attempt to kill him before he can kill Heflin, and Heflin has to make a tough decision that could lead to redemption. Watchable, with all the actors doing fine jobs; Astor is especially good in a change of pace role as Heflin's world-weary protector. There are some nice noir visuals and the subject matter of what would now be called post-traumatic stress is interesting, but overall not a terribly memorable film. [TCM]