Violence

Violence

Year: 1947

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Bernhard

DramaCrime

Magazine writer Ann Mason goes undercover with the United Defenders, a public‑service group that is secretly a front for a racketeering operation. While gathering evidence, she suffers a bout of amnesia that jeopardizes her disguise and puts her investigation at risk.

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Timeline & Setting – Violence (1947)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Violence (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s

Set in a mid-20th century United States, the plot reflects a period when veterans’ organizations and investigative journalism were prominent forces in public life. The era features covert operations, sensational fundraising, and political intimidation. The social climate provides a backdrop for noir-style intrigue and the fight to expose hidden networks of power.

Location

Los Angeles, Chicago

The story mainly unfolds in Los Angeles, centering on the basement and headquarters of the United Defenders. It also shifts to Chicago, where the investigative journalist Ann operates and where hospital and newsroom settings anchor the plot. The urban settings underscore a web of manipulation and corruption spreading across these two major cities.

🏙️ Los Angeles 🗺️ Chicago

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:34

Main Characters – Violence (1947)

Meet the key characters of Violence (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ann Dwire (Nancy Coleman)

An investigative reporter undercover in Los Angeles who infiltrates the United Defenders to build a case for her Chicago magazine. She is sharp, determined, and initially credulous, but her exposure to the UD’s brutality hardens her resolve. Her memory and moral clarity become pivotal as the truth about the organization emerges. Her courage drives the investigation toward exposing the group's crimes.

📰 Investigative 🧭 Undercover

Steve Fuller (Michael O'Shea)

A tough, resourceful figure who tails Ann and is revealed to be an undercover Los Angeles detective. He distrusts the UD’s rhetoric but believes in uncovering the truth, becoming a crucial ally to Ann. He helps connect the investigation to the broader network behind the organization. His partnership with Ann accelerates the move toward exposing the UD.

🕵️‍♂️ Detective 🤝 Ally

Fred Stalk (Sheldon Leonard)

The UD’s violent enforcer who uses intimidation to keep members in line. He embodies the coercive tactics at the heart of the organization’s scams. His interactions reveal the brutality underlying the facade of a veterans’ aid group. His clashes with Ann and Steve escalate the film’s tension and danger.

🗡️ Enforcer 🎭 Villain

True Dawson (Emory Parnell)

The charismatic leader who cloaks the UD’s operation in the rhetoric of veterans’ assistance while siphoning funds. He is calculating, confident, and adept at manipulating public sentiment. His schemes are designed to provoke protests as a cover for violent actions and silencing dissent. He drives the plot toward a climactic confrontation with the truth.

🧭 Leader 💰 Manipulator

Sally Donahue (Cay Forester)

Sally, Joe Donahue’s wife, searches for her husband at the UD, embodying the personal stakes of the organization’s crimes. Her letters to Joe, hidden in Stalk’s room, become a key link in the evidence chain. She highlights the human cost of the UD’s manipulation on families. Her presence intensifies the drive to uncover the truth.

💔 Wife 🕊️ Witness

Joe Donahue (Jimmy Clark)

A veteran who discovers the UD’s scam and attempts to leave, triggering the chain of events that leads to murder. His defection exposes the organization’s true nature and catalyzes the investigation. His death becomes the incident that reveals the UD’s brutality to others. His fate anchors the film’s moral stakes.

💔 Victim 🕯️ Catalyst

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:34

Major Themes – Violence (1947)

Explore the central themes of Violence (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Investigation

A muckraking journalist goes undercover to document the UD’s scams and the killings surrounding it. The pursuit of truth drives the narrative, forcing characters to confront dangerous lies. The investigation reveals a hidden network that manipulates veterans for profit and power. The tension peaks as the protagonists confront the shadowy figures behind the operation.

💰 Corruption

The UD’s fundraising is revealed as a front for bilking veterans of dues and Defender merchandise. True Dawson uses charisma and manipulation to mask criminal activity and political intimidation. The organization is shown as part of a larger, clandestine network controlled by a shadowy overseer. The exposure of the scheme reframes the conflict from personal deceit to systemic exploitation.

💭 Memory & Truth

Ann's amnesia and later revival of memory become central to discovering the UD’s crimes. The characters’ past lies and present revelations blur the line between perception and reality. The film uses memory as a weapon and a tool for unveiling truth. The ultimate confrontation reconciles what has been hidden with what must be faced publicly.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:34

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Violence Summary

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Violence Summary

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Violence (1947) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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