The Prowler

The Prowler

Year: 1951

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Joseph Losey

ThrillerDramaThrillers and murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramasSuspenseful crime thrillers

In Los Angeles, a disillusioned police officer who resents his job and constantly blames others for his professional frustrations is assigned to track down a mysterious prowler terrorizing the house of a married woman. As the investigation unfolds, his own discontent threatens to cloud the case.

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Timeline & Setting – The Prowler (1951)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Prowler (1951). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1950s

Set in the 1950s, the story unfolds within a post-war American context marked by strict social mores. The period's policing and small-town dynamics amplify Webb's confidence to manipulate a coroner's inquest. The era's drive for stability heightens the tension as crime collides with respectability.

Location

Calico, California

Calico, California is a remote desert ghost town that serves as the film’s hideout and final birthplace setting. Its abandoned streets and dusty landscape highlight the couple's secret life on the road. The town embodies a lawless edge and a quiet, eerie backdrop for the killings and the attempted concealment.

🏜️ Desert town 👣 Ghost town

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:03

Main Characters – The Prowler (1951)

Meet the key characters of The Prowler (1951), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Webb Garwood (Van Heflin)

A disgruntled police officer who becomes consumed by an obsession with a married woman. He engineers a murder and a phony alibi, manipulating the system to avoid detection. His charm masks a calculating, controlling nature that drives the plot toward violence.

🧠 Obsession 💔 Manipulation ⚖️ Morality

Susan Gilvray (Evelyn Keyes)

A married woman drawn into a dangerous affair. She navigates a web of secrecy, pregnancy, and shifting loyalties as she weighs self-preservation against passion. Her decisions escalate the stakes and lead to a tense confrontation with Webb.

💔 Forbidden love 🤫 Secrecy 🤰 Pregnancy

John Gilvray (Sherry Hall)

Susan's husband, a radio personality whose life becomes the target of Webb's scheme. His death serves as the catalyst for the crime and the subsequent cover-up. The affair hinges on his presence, even as his absence drives the investigation.

😠 Infidelity 🎙️ Radio personality ⚖️ Victim

Dr. William James (Doctor James)

A local physician who is coerced by Webb to travel to Calico to deliver the baby. He survives the attempted murder and escapes with the newborn, becoming a critical witness to the deception.

🏥 Healer 🚑 Rescue 🕵️ Surprise

Coroner

The official presiding over the coroner's inquest that Webb manipulates to present a false narrative. He represents the legal authority that Webb tries to outsmart, highlighting the fragility of justice under pressure.

⚖️ Justice 🗣️ Inquest 🕯️ Authority

Bud Crocker

A supporting character tied to the broader Gilvray circle; the summary provides little detail on his role, but he contributes to the backdrop of the investigation and social dynamics.

🧩 Supporting role 🗂️ Family ties

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:03

Major Themes – The Prowler (1951)

Explore the central themes of The Prowler (1951), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Moral Dilemma

Webb's crime tests the boundaries of right and wrong as he engineers a murder and a phony alibi, manipulating the system to avoid detection. The film probes how deception and desire corrupt justice, including a coroner's jury swayed by appearances. The period's codes of honor keep Webb's actions in the shadows until truth surfaces.

💔 Obsession

Webb's fixation on Susan drives him to risk his career and life to possess her. Susan's responses oscillate between allure and fear, revealing the power imbalance in their relationship. The romance becomes a dangerous engine that propels the plot toward violence and betrayal.

🕵️ Deception & Identity

The couple crafts misdirection—faking a lack of prior acquaintance and staging a prowler incident—to hide their affair. The truth hides in the details of the testimony, the birth, and the choice to flee to Calico. The courtroom and the road become stages where identities are performed and secrets unravel.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:03

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The Prowler Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Prowler, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Prowler Summary

The Prowler Timeline

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The Prowler Timeline

More About The Prowler

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The Prowler (1951) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Prowler (1951) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Prowler (1951) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow