A masterpiece of sexual creepiness, institutional corruption and suffocating passion.0
The Prowler (1951) director Joseph Losey also directing the US version of Fritz Lang's M in 1951 and The Concrete Jungle (1960). His neglected masterpiece capitalizes on film noir biggies such as Double Indemnity (1944). It was written by legendary blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Johnny Get Your Gun, Spartacus). In fact, Losey was called before HUAC during the production of The Prowler to testify against the Hollywood 10 but instead exiled himself to England where he lived the rest of his life.
In 1951's The Prowler, a nefarious cop named Webb (played by Helfin) stalks a lonely, repressed Los Angeles housewife and decides to win her in the traditional film noir fashion - by knocking off her husband!
The DVD release has been restored to its original high contrast glory by the Film Noir Foundation and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
Notes: 0 = A quote by L.A. Confidential and Black Dahlia novelist James Ellroy used to decribe the film.
References:
IMDB, First-Time Felon
IMDB, Jospeh Losey
IMDB, The Prowler (1951)
Toronto Film Fest, The Prowler
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