When Susan Gilvray reports a prowler outside her house police officer Webb Garwood investigates and sparks fly. If only her husband wasn't in the way.
Elizabeth Olsen, Tim Robbins, and more reveal how frigid conditions can make any job seem less glamorous.
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Title: The Prowler (1951)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Van Heflin | ... | ||
| Evelyn Keyes | ... | ||
| John Maxwell | ... | ||
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Katherine Warren | ... |
Grace Crocker
(as Katharine Warren)
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Emerson Treacy | ... | |
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Madge Blake | ... | |
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Wheaton Chambers | ... |
Dr. William R. James
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Robert Osterloh | ... |
Coroner
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Sherry Hall | ... | |
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Louise Lorimer | ... |
Motel Manager
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
In a fancy suburb in California, the gorgeous housewife Susan Gilvray finds a prowler outside her house late one night and she calls the police. Officer Webb Garwood and his partner answer the call but do not find anyone. Later Webb returns to Susan's house with the pretext of checking if everything is OK. Susan invites him in to have coffee with her. Webb soon learns that Susan is married to John Gilvray, a middle-aged broadcaster of a late night radio show. They also discover that they are from the same hometown. Webb makes a pass at Susan and even though she tries to put him off they soon start a love affair. When John becomes suspicious Susan ends her relationship with Webb. Though difficult Webb stays away from Susan. Without Susan's knowledge Webb plots a scheme to get rid of John; he simulates a scenario where John is "accidently" shot dead. There is an inquest and it is ruled that John Gilvray's death was not intentional. Webb quits the police-force a job he was never happy ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Taglines:
Watch out for THE PROWLER See more »Certificate:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
25 May 1951 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Auf Streife See more »Company Credits
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company contact information
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Lyrics by Dick Mack
Music by Lyn Murray
Sung by Robert Carroll (as Bob Carroll)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The radio announcer heard throughout the film is actually the voice of blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who wrote the film under the pseudonym, Hugo Butler. See more »Goofs
Webb tells Susan the birth of their baby will increase the ghost town's population by 33%. The birth will increase the population by 50%. See more »Soundtracks
BabyLyrics by Dick Mack
Music by Lyn Murray
Sung by Robert Carroll (as Bob Carroll)
See more »
Webb Garwood (Van Heflin) is NOT your average policeman. After he and his partner respond to a prowler call, they leave....and Officer Garwood returns later. He claims he's just checking in on the woman but it soon is obvious that he is very interested in the pretty, well-heeled lady. At first, she rebuffs his advances...but soon is infatuated with him. The problem is that she is married...and Webb has a plan. You see, he's a master manipulator and his interest in Susan (Evelyn Keyes) is more than just sexual...he knows she has money...money which can help him retire in style! So he hatches a crazy plan to kill the husband...and thus live happily ever after! So what comes of this vicious plan?!
In some ways, this is a good example of film noir--such as the dirty cop, the murder and the affair. But in other ways, it's not quite a typical noir. The camera angles and dark cinematography is missing and the picture is a bit more Hollywood in look than a typical noir. I'd more consider this one noir-lite! This isn't really a complaint...more just an observation about the style of the film.
All in all, this is a very exciting and bleak film. The ending is top-notch and the film one of Heflin's best. Well worth seeing...and oddly not especially well known or formulaic in the least.