Tension (1949)

A milquetoast pharmacist (Richard Basehart) is married to a duplicitous tramp (Audrey Totter). When she dumps him for a liquor salesman (Lloyd Gough), he tries to win her back without success. It is then that he plots a revenge that has far reaching consequences. Based on a story by John D. Klorer and directed by John Berry (HE RAN ALL THE WAY). This nifty little noir checks all the right boxes: a dupe (Basehart) led around by the nose by a femme fatale (Totter), a determined police detective (Barry Sullivan), shadowy B&W noir cinematography courtesy of Harry Stradling (MY FAIR LADY) and a nice little twist of fate at the end. It's a minor noir but it's a good example of a tight little B put out by the MGM dream factory. Basehart brings a suitable hangdog quality to his sap but the movie belongs to Totter's manipulative tough tart. The movie doesn't set out to be anything special but it's that very modesty that is a major part of its appeal. I suspect most noir buffs have already seen this but if you haven't, by all means check it out. With Cyd Charisse, William Conrad, Tom D'Andrea, Tito Renaldo, Virginia Brissac and Theresa Harris.