Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Act of Violence

      Released Dec 21, 1948 1 hr. 22 min. Crime Drama List
      93% 14 Reviews Tomatometer 76% 500+ Ratings Audience Score A former prisoner of war, Frank Enley (Van Heflin) is hailed as a hero in his California town. However, Frank actually aided his Nazi captors, and he closely guards this secret. Frank's shameful past comes back to visit him when fellow survivor Joe Parkson (Robert Ryan) emerges, intent on making the turncoat pay for his betrayal. As Joe closes in on Frank, the traitor goes into hiding, abandoning his wife, Edith (Janet Leigh), who has no clue about her husband's wartime transgressions. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (58) audience reviews
      Steve D The characters are too thin for it to be fully engaging. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/05/23 Full Review Audience Member LOL, so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Ed M Entertaining, creepy little movie about World War 2 Vets. Not bad. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/06/21 Full Review Ken R Act Of Violence – A Class Act This suspenseful 1949 masterwork is top of its class. A great cast takes us on a spine tingling journey of introspection and soul searching. From the best of friends to the worst of enemies this thoughtful, superbly performed noir classic, reminds us what made these early movies so convincingly perfect. Respected director Fred Zinnemann combines with master director of photography Robert Surtees (Ben Hur'59) to create some remarkable shadowy scenes of movie perfection and taut storytelling. While the theme may be grim for some, it takes us into a situation that would try the best of us – testing all our strengths and weaknesses. If not yet seen, don't read any synopses, just see it to be thoroughly entertained. Van Heflin and Robert Ryan are perfect as the two men out to right a past wrong, each dealing with a deep-seated memory that pushes them into a deadly collision course - with no visible means of discourse. Even the resolution is starkly realistic with no escape. Bronislau Kaper provides the tense music score, while all the MGM production specialists provide all the stylish fine touches. Not to be missed by lovers of deeply felt, first-class moviemaking. The WB Archive DVD offers high a quality transfer and good value as a Double Feature with the terrific "Mystery Street" Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/12/20 Full Review Audience Member Nearly perfect film noir, with a thick, shadowy atmosphere and a taut story. Excellent cast and direction. My only complaint is the finale seemed forced by comparison to the rest of the film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review andrey k A perfect noir from the technical point of view, it has all the elements of a true noir picture and moreover they are perfectly realized. It all begins from the bright scenes and respectable background and slowly but inevitably, as the shadowy past takes hold of the main hero/antihero reality, proceeds to darkness, guilt-driven madness, low-life personalities and all the other characteristics of a man losing his grip on circumstances. Excellent cast and riveting story; it's economic in run-time and rich on suspense; and the feel of a B-movie adds to it more realism. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      100% 75% Force of Evil 89% 79% The Postman Always Rings Twice 98% 87% The Asphalt Jungle 71% 58% Border Incident 97% 87% Bad Day at Black Rock Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Act of Violence photos

      Act of Violence

      Act of Violence (1949) Act of Violence (1949) Act of Violence (1949) Act of Violence (1949) Act of Violence (1949) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (14) Critics Reviews
      Variety Staff Variety It is strong meat for the heavy drama addicts, tellingly produced and played to develop tight excitement. Nov 1, 2007 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times Technically Act of Violence touches all the bases in its circuit chase. But it is as though it were doing it on the strength of a long, foul ball. Rated: 3/5 Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Pat Padua Washington City Paper Director Fred Zinnemann is best known for his 1952 masterpiece High Noon, but this 1948 noir feels like a dry run, embodying themes of courage and cowardice in a distinctly postwar tale. Oct 18, 2023 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...striking, gripping... Rated: 3/4 Aug 16, 2023 Full Review Elsa Branden Photoplay It's primarily actress Leigh who demonstrates her dramatic ability in this picture, delivering a poignant performance. Rated: 2/3 Aug 20, 2021 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia It is a tremendous film noir. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 Aug 3, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A former prisoner of war, Frank Enley (Van Heflin) is hailed as a hero in his California town. However, Frank actually aided his Nazi captors, and he closely guards this secret. Frank's shameful past comes back to visit him when fellow survivor Joe Parkson (Robert Ryan) emerges, intent on making the turncoat pay for his betrayal. As Joe closes in on Frank, the traitor goes into hiding, abandoning his wife, Edith (Janet Leigh), who has no clue about her husband's wartime transgressions.
      Director
      Fred Zinnemann
      Screenwriter
      Collier Young, Robert L. Richards
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
      Production Co
      Metro Goldwyn Mayer
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 21, 1948, Wide
      Release Date (DVD)
      Jul 31, 2007
      Sound Mix
      Mono