Tuesday's Forgotten Movies: The Prowler Starring Van Heflin

I'm a bit late with this post, but better late than never, as they say. This gritty, well-acted 1951 film noir stars Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes playing in meaty roles as the romantic interests. Both competent actors are very fine. I've seen them in other movies but always as support players and never as the dramatic leads. When Susan Gilvray (Keyes) reports a prowler she thinks she has spotted outside her house, the police officer Webb Garwood (Heflin) arrives and investigates. Susan is a lonely, rich housewife, and Webb is a greedy ex-jock. When they meet, the love/lust bug bites them. Of course, Susan is married, and Webb strings Susan along until he can figure out how to do away with hubbie and get away with it. Everything goes smoothly until new complications develop, and the lovers have flee to a deserted old mining town where things really come unraveled. Their roughing it while staying at the primitive mining camp is somewhat puzzling, since their clothes never get dirty, and they eat rather well. John Maxwell also stars, and the uncredited Dalton Trumbo wrote the snappy script. He also is the voice behind Susan's hubbie who has a popular radio show. IMDb.com gives The Prowler an impressive 7.3/10 rating, and I'd concur with it.