The Beat Generation (1959)

A police detective (Steve Cochran) doesn't trust women based on his unfaithful first wife. When a psychotic serial rapist (Ray Danton), who only assaults married women, goes on a rampage, the detective is remarkably insensitive to the rape victims as if they invited their own rape. But when his second wife (Fay Spain) becomes a victim of the rapist and later becomes pregnant, not sure if he or the rapist is the father makes him realize there is a thin line between him and the rapist. This B&W thriller with noir-ish trimmings is quite daring for its era in its subject matter but is also a victim of its era. When the raped wife understandably wants to terminate the pregnancy, a priest (William Schallert) lectures her on "executing" the baby and even her husband says it is wrong. There's also an uncomfortable subplot about a potential rape victim (Mamie Van Doren) whose ex-husband (Ray Anthony) walks in before the rape can occur but she's so turned on by the rapist, she pursues him! Talk about sending out mixed signals. Part exploitation film, part social message. Directed by Charles F. Haas. With Louis Armstrong, Margaret Hayes, Guy Stockwell, Billy Daniels, Vampira, James Mitchum and Irish McCalla (SHEENA, QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE).