Complete credited cast: | |||
Nancy Coleman | ... | Ann Dwire alias Ann Mason | |
Michael O'Shea | ... | Steve Fuller | |
Sheldon Leonard | ... | Fred Stalk | |
Peter Whitney | ... | Joker Robinson | |
Emory Parnell | ... | True Dawson | |
Pierre Watkin | ... | Ralph Borden | |
Frank Reicher | ... | Pop | |
Cay Forester | ... | Sally Donahue | |
John Hamilton | ... | Doctor Chalmers | |
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Richard Irving | ... | Latimer |
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Carole Donne | ... | Beth Taffel |
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Jimmy Clark | ... | Joe Donahue |
William Gould | ... | Mr. X |
Undersover magazine reporter Ann Mason is able to infiltrate a neo-facist organization that recruits disgruntled war veterans with a paranoiac populist message that views both labor and management as enemies. She becomes secretary to the organization's leader, True Dawson, a smooth-talking con artist who uses the member's dues and the organisation's manpower for his own nefarious ends. Fred Stalk, one of Dawson's enforcers, suspects her motives but lack of evidence and his attraction to her keeps him from acting against her. While en route to break her exposé, Ann's taxi is pursued by government agent Steve Fuller, and the resultant crash leaves her with a concussion and loss of memory. Fuller uses the opportunity to convince her he's her fiancé and gains access to the racketeers. Written by duke1029@aol.com
"Violence" is a 1947 low budget black and white film dealing with the problem of veterans adjusting to a society that seemingly doesn't provide adequately for their post-war needs. Most viewers today may not understand the topic but in 1947 this was a major topic as returning servicemen tried to adjust to society and as society tried to absorb them back into the workforce and life in general.
During the War strikes were forbidden and women took on major roles in the workforce. With millions of returning servicemen looking for jobs, businesses took the opportunity to reduce wages. So jobs were in short supply and wages were low. Many industries were scaling down from war production. Strikes began in major industries.
In the Great Strike Wave of 1945-46 Truman threatened to take over railroads if strikes persisted. Democrats lost the election in 1946 and the Republicans passed the Taft-Hartley Act limiting the ability of unions to strike.
On top of this, many veterans had mental health problems that were not being treated, promoting Truman to establish NIMH in 1946.
In the middle of this turmoil, HUAC was created in 1945 and became extremely active in 1947.
By the early 50s the Cold War was well in progress and the U.S. experienced enormous prosperity, and this transitional period between 1945 and 1950 was forgotten.
This film, as ordinary as it is, reflects some of the concerns of the times.
My favorite films about this era are "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946), "Till the End of Time" (1946), "Home of the Brave" (1949), and "The Men" (1950).