John Berry directed Tension, a B-level crime film noir, starrins Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Cyd Charisse and Barry Sullivan.
It was written by Allen Rivkin, based on a story by John D. Klorer.
The movie is now better known for its behind-the scenes politics, due to the fact that director Berry and supporting actor Lloyd Gough would be blacklisted.
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Theatrical release poster
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Some of this movoe’s themes and sub-themes were reused in later MGM productions, such as Designing Woman (1957), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and even Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959).
It begins with Barry Sullivan, who plays Police Lieutenant Collier Bonnabel of the homicide division, talks to the camera, relating his strategy of solving murders by applying pressures on suspects until they submit. As narrator, he states: “I thought I would work on her all the way down the line.”
Take the murder case–unfolding in flashbacks– involving Warren Quimby, played by the underestimated actor Richard Basehart,
Quimby, night manager of a drugstore, is married to the sexy Claire, who is unfaithful to him. When she leaves him for the richer Barney Deager, Quimby goes to Deager’s beachfront house to get his wife back, but she rejecs him, and he gets beaten by Deager.
Humiliated, Quimby constructs a new identity as cosmetics salesman Paul Sothern, sporting contact lenses and flashier clothes.
It “just happens” that his neighbor is a naive and beautiful girl named Mary Chanler (Cyd Charisse)
Late one night, Claire surprises Quimby and returns to him. She claim that she only went to Deager’s place as a guest, and that she and her husband had been Deager’s friends for years.
Bonnabel takes Claire on a date, telling her that the police has a long file on her, dating back to San Diego. He informs Claire that they release her husband due to lack of sufficient evidence–the gun is the only vital clue needed to convict Quimby.
Claire retrieves the gun and plants it in Sothern’s apartment, but then Bonnabel explains that all the furnishings had been replaced, meaning any gun would have been taken.
Incriminating herself, Claire is arrested, allowing Quimby and Mariesnto leave together.
The film features an early score from Andre Previn, who would become a major composer.
Upon release, reviewers criticized the film’s slow pacing and lack of real suspense.
Tension was an MGM “silver anniversary” release, reflecting changes initiated by new studio honcho Dore Schary, who sought to make more realistic films alongside the studio’s typical fare of musicals, romances and family fare,
Tension has been described as “an intriguing signpost on MGM’s journey to a changed market.” But it was a commercial flop, earning $506,000 in the U.S. and $270,000 in other markets, resulting in a loss of $229,000.
Howver, over the years, Tension has been reevaluated, and young critics alloted praise for Totter and Basehart’s performances.
Cast
Richard Basehart as Warren Quimby, aka Paul Sothern
Audrey Totter as Claire Quimby
Cyd Charisse as Mary Chanler
Barry Sullivan as Police Lt. Collier Bonnabel
Lloyd Gough as Barney Deager
Tom D’Andrea as Freddie, counter man at Coast to Coast drugstore
William Conrad as Police Lt. Edgar “Blackie” Gonsales
Tito Renaldo as Narco, Deager’s houseboy
Credits:
Directed by John Berry
Screenplay by Allen Rivkin; story by John D. Klorer
Produced by Robert Sisk
Narrated by Barry Sullivan
Cinematography Harry Stradling
Edited by Albert Akst
Music by André Previn
Production and distribution: MGM
Release dates: Nov 25, 1949 (US); Jan 11, 1950 (NYC)
Running time: 91 minutes
Budget $682,000
Box office $776,000
