Tension

Of all the major studios, MGM, best known for big-budget musicals and glossy comedies, was probably the least associated — and least successful — with film noir. Yes, some MGM titles went on to become noir classics (for example, 1948’s Act of Violence and 1950’s The Asphalt Jungle), but many of the studio’s attempts at crime, despite premium craftsmanship, suffered from lack of the grittiness and desperation for which the style is known. One such film is John Berry’s Tension, a psychologically intriguing story that entertains despite subdued direction in large part due to a despicable femme fatale performance by the excellent Audrey Totter (a naughty, sultry alto saxophone refrain accompanies each of her arrivals on screen). When meek-mannered pharmacy manager Warren Quimby’s (Richard Basehart) bored, coquettish wife Claire (Totter) finally leaves him for another man, he devises a (misguided) way to exact revenge and/or win her back: he’ll create an alternative identity named Paul Southern and begin living two parallel lives, then “Paul” will murder Claire’s new boyfriend, Barney Deager (Lloyd Gough), before vanishing from earth. All goes well with the scheme (Quimby procures contact lenses and new clothes, rents a second apartment, and makes new friends as “Paul”), but when it comes time to dispatch Deager, he can’t go through with it and flees. Strangely, Deager still turns up dead the next day, shot in the head. Barry Sullivan plays police detective Collier Bonnabel, who slowly applies pressure (or tension, if you will) to all involved, waiting for someone to crack, and Cyd Charisse plays Mary Chanler, “Paul’s” new neighbor and love interest. (Noir regular William Conrad is also on hand as Bonnabel’s sidekick.) The whole thing doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s a fun ride and it ultimately coheres into a satisfying conclusion even if it might take a bit too long to get there.