Tension

 

Richard Basehart and Audrey Totter star in this 1949 film about a mild-mannered druggist whose wife is two-timing him. With his dreams for a home and family shattered, he plots revenge. Directed by John Berry. CC. 91 minutes. 

 Richard Basehart is probably best remembered for his role as Ishmael in John Huston's Moby Dick. Audrey Totter's portrayal of the nasty unfaithful wife ranks her with Hollywood's top femme fatales. The supporting cast includes Barry Sullivan, William Conrad, Tom D'Andrea, and the beautiful Cyd Charisse in a rare non-dancing role.

I like this film but I have to admit that the police tactics depicted are hard to imagine even back in 1949. I'm not referring to harsh interrogation or brutality. To entrap the prime suspect the detective makes love to her, and even invites her to spend a weekend with him in Acapulco. Here is a link to Eddie Muller's intro that provides informative background on the participants. 

Audrey Totter and Richard Basehart

He Walked by Night

               

He Walked by Night. Richard Basehart stars in this 1948 police drama about a manhunt for a burglar turned cop-killer. He plays the wily, elusive killer and Scott Brady plays the policeman leading the manhunt. Basehart is excellent as the hunted killer. In one memorable scene, he is in his room after escaping from a police trap, and has to remove a policeman's bullet embedded in his arm. The camera closes in to reveal the intense pain as he performs the operation. It's quite an acting job.

This film is an unusual film noir in that there are no women involved. There is no romantic sub-plot, and not even a femme fatale. It is what is known as a police procedural based on a real story taken from the files of the LAPD.  The film became the prototype for the famed TV series, Dragnet, also based on LAPD files. Apparently Jack Webb, the creator of Dragnet, got the idea for the long-running TV police series as a result of his appearance in this film as a forensics expert.

Richard Basehart

Critics also believe that the extraordinary black and white cinematography by John Alton had great influence on other filmmakers. Eddie Muller of Turner Classic Movies' Noir Alley regards Alton as the best of all noir cameramen.

Maybe it is just a coincidence, but I think the film might also have influenced a  1949 British masterpiece.The ending of He Walked by Night takes place in the huge Los Angeles underground storm drain system, used by the killer to escape from police. A year later the Vienna sewer system would be used for the thrilling ending of The Third Man.

Here is a link to Eddie Muller's intro to the film on Youtube, or just see the short video below. His "outro" is also worth watching. ###