Tunnel of Hate
Fred Zinnemann Week infects The Chiseler now, with this fervid examination of ACT OF VIOLENCE, the Fred Zinnemann movie for people who don’t like Fred Zinnemann movies. And those who do.
Image via Cinemascope blog.
Fred Zinnemann Week infects The Chiseler now, with this fervid examination of ACT OF VIOLENCE, the Fred Zinnemann movie for people who don’t like Fred Zinnemann movies. And those who do.
Image via Cinemascope blog.
October 19, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Good grief! For a minute I thought you’d dumped Fred for a post on Invasion of the Body Snatchers .
October 19, 2011 at 5:44 pm
“You’re next!”
Act of Violence does get pretty close to being a horror movie, and it has a similar day-into-night structure as Body Snatchers.
October 19, 2011 at 6:03 pm
“Robert Ryan in the bright sunlight is even scarier because he simply has no business being there.” …..
best line you’ve ever written, and that’s saying a lot.
October 19, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Why thank you! This was a piece that rolled out very easily after watching the film, which inspires a somewhat hyped-up, breathless style.
October 19, 2011 at 10:55 pm
I’ve seen this several times and still I’m never sure whats going to happen to Van Heflin in the end…Hes in a REALLY bad rut in this one…No matter how mean Ryan is in some films,theres always something about him that makes me think deep down hes a square fella..lol @ that scene where Van Heflin locks all the doors and pulls down the shades..and you here that “step scraaape,step scraaaape” as if they’re under siege by the Mummy
October 19, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Yes! A total horror movie moment. And Ryan DOES have a spark of decency in this, but he’s all eaten up with hatred and he can’t be a good civilian while his enemy lives…
October 20, 2011 at 2:52 am
Hatred yes, but hatred combined with post-war trauma. Which is why he’s not just angry, he’s also more than a little unhinged. And he’s consumed with moral purpose as well, he feels the need to avenge those who died in the camp in their attempt to escape.
October 20, 2011 at 9:24 am
All of which makes him seemingly unstoppable. The other great horror movie scene is when Mary Astor calls him to offer money, and you just hear this throaty laugh from the phone line…
Striking how many of Zinnemann’s films put post-war trauma front and centre.
October 20, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Nicely done, David. Easily my favorite Zinneman film.
October 20, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Zinnemann, ZINNEMANN.
October 20, 2011 at 3:59 pm
He had too many Ns. It was his one failing.
October 20, 2011 at 5:15 pm
It’s nnot his fault.
October 20, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Bernard Hermann had the same problem.
October 20, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Too many Rs and Ns. He could have cleared up the excess by becoming a Registered Nurse.
The two men collaborated on the little-seen but intense A Hatful of Rain.