The Prowler

19511951
ApprovedApproved
1h 32min

The Prowler (1951)

Drama Film-Noir Thriller

After 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.After 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.After 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.

Director
- Joseph Losey
Writers
- Robert Thoeren(story)
- Hans Wilhelm(story)
- Hugo Butler(screenplay)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

1/2 sheet, 28 x 22

Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Van Heflin in The Prowler (1951)

Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Van Heflin, Wheaton Chambers, and Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Louise Lorimer, Katherine Warren, and John Maxwell in The Prowler (1951)

Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes in The Prowler (1951)

Webb Garwoodas Webb Garwood

Susan Gilvrayas Susan Gilvray

Bud Crockeras Bud Crocker

Katherine Warren

Grace Crockeras Grace Crocker

William Gilvrayas William Gilvray

Martha Gilvrayas Martha Gilvray

Wheaton Chambers

Doctor Jamesas Doctor James

Robert Osterloh

Coroneras Coroner

John Gilvrayas John Gilvray

Motel Manageras Motel Manager

Herbert Anderson

Reporteras Reporter
(uncredited)

Evelyn James - Doctor's Wifeas Evelyn James - Doctor's Wife
(uncredited)

Jurymanas Juryman
(uncredited)

Journalistas Journalist
(uncredited)

Steve Carruthers

Mr. Talbotas Mr. Talbot
(uncredited)

Airline Clerkas Airline Clerk
(uncredited)

Spectator at Coroner's Inquestas Spectator at Coroner's Inquest
(uncredited)

Man in Crowdas Man in Crowd
(uncredited)

Director
- Joseph Losey
Writers
- Robert Thoeren(story)
- Hans Wilhelm(story)
- Hugo Butler(screenplay)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

99 River Street

7.4

99 River Street

Sudden Fear

7.5

Raw Deal

7.2

Pitfall

7.2

Crime Wave

7.4

The Big Night

6.3

The Big Combo

7.4

The Reckless Moment

7.1

The Reckless Moment

Tension

7.3

Criss Cross

7.5

Night and the City

7.9

Night and the City

I Wake Up Screaming

7.2

I Wake Up Screaming

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 doing. He manipulates John's brother to get close to Susan again. He learns that John could not have children and that John and Susan's marriage was not perfect. Webb meets Susan and convinces her that he is really innocent. They resume their relationship and soon marry. On their wedding night, Susan discloses that she is four months pregnant. How can they explain the baby coming so soon after they marry when there was supposedly nothing between them four months ago? There was a great deal of publicity around the case someone is bound to put it all together. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

obsessive love murder police officer villain played by lead actor pregnancy 17 more

Taglines
- WHAT woman would welcome THE PROWLER.
Genres
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide

Trivia
Uncredited producer John Huston conceived this project as a star vehicle for his estranged wife, Evelyn Keyes, as a sort of parting gift. She had long complained about her lack of challenging roles while under contract at Columbia. They were divorced by the time production began.

Goofs
Webb tells Susan the birth of their baby will increase the ghost town's population by 33-1/3%. The birth will increase the population by 50% because the population will go from two to three.

Quotes
Webb Garwood: [working on picking the lock of her husband's storage box] Does he keep everything locked up?
Susan Gilvray: Mostly.
Webb Garwood: You, too?
Susan Gilvray: That's a leading question.
Webb Garwood: Ha, probably does. A mean, jealous guy like that wants his wife all to himself. I can't say I blame him, though. I'd do the same myself...
Webb Garwood: [he's managed to pick the lock and open the storage box] There. See how silly it is to keep things locked up?
Susan Gilvray: Maybe. But it did delay you for a little while.
Webb Garwood: Is that all he wants, just to delay things?
Susan Gilvray: Sometimes a little delay does the trick.

Connections
Featured in Kika (1993)

Soundtracks
Baby
Lyrics by Dick Mack
Music by Lyn Murray
Sung by Robert Carroll (as Bob Carroll)

Top review

9/10

He's certainly NOT your average cop...

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.

helpful•9

2

MartinHafer
Dec 17, 2016

Release date
- May 25, 1951 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Cost of Living
Filming locations
- Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, California, USA
Production company
- Horizon Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 32min
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

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The Prowler (1951)

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