The Prowler (1951) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A police officer's affair and calculated murder unravel as the people he deceived threaten to expose him.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Affair and the Trap

Webb investigates Susan's prowler report, becomes obsessed with her, and begins an affair. After learning about her husband's life insurance, he stages a prowler incident and kills him.

Key Events

• Prowler Report — Webb investigates Susan's report of a prowler while her husband works nights. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Susan's home
• An Affair Begins — Webb becomes obsessed with Susan, and they begin an adulterous affair. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Not specified
• Insurance Scheme — Webb discovers the husband's life insurance policy and devises a murder scheme. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Not specified
• Staged Prowler Noise — Webb makes noise outside the house to suggest that a prowler is nearby. Characters: Webb Garwood Location: Outside Susan's home
• Second Prowler Ruse — Returning as an officer, Webb again makes noise to suggest a prowler. Characters: Webb Garwood Location: Susan's home
• Husband Is Shot — Webb shoots the armed husband from the bushes, then wounds himself to stage an exchange of gunfire. Characters: Webb Garwood Location: Outside Susan's home

A Lie Accepted

Webb disguises the murder as an exchange of gunfire, and Susan joins him in denying their prior relationship at the inquest. Although she initially suspects him, Webb persuades her of his innocence.

Key Events

• Inquest Deception — Webb and Susan deny knowing each other before the death, and the jury accepts Webb's staged account. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray, Spectator at Coroner's Inquest (uncredited) Location: Coroner's inquest
• Susan's Suspicion — Susan suspects Webb, but he convinces her that he is innocent. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Not specified

Pregnancy in Hiding

Webb and Susan marry, but Susan's pregnancy reveals that their affair predates the inquest and threatens to expose their lie. They flee to Calico to conceal the birth.

Key Events

• Marriage and Pregnancy — Webb marries Susan; she tells him she is four months pregnant and knows he is the father. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Not specified
• Flight to Calico — They flee to the ghost town so the baby can be born without anyone back home knowing. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Calico

The Doctor's Escape

Susan goes into premature labor, and Webb forces Doctor James to come to Calico. Susan warns the doctor that Webb plans to kill him, allowing him to escape with the newborn and the car keys.

Key Events

• Premature Labor — Their secluded life is interrupted when Susan enters premature labor. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Calico
• Doctor Forced to Calico — Webb forces Doctor James to travel to Calico to assist with the birth. Characters: Webb Garwood, Doctor James Location: Nearby town and Calico
• Susan Warns the Doctor — Susan warns Doctor James of Webb's intent; the doctor escapes with the newborn and the Cadillac keys. Characters: Susan Gilvray, Doctor James Location: Calico

Flight and Pursuit

Susan confronts Webb with her knowledge of his crimes, and he abandons her in Calico. His escape route is blocked; he flees on foot and is shot after refusing to surrender.

Key Events

• Webb Abandons Susan — Susan confronts Webb with what she knows, and he drives away, leaving her behind. Characters: Webb Garwood, Susan Gilvray Location: Calico
• Escape Route Blocked — Webb finds the narrow route blocked by his former police partner's car and tries to push it aside. Characters: Webb Garwood Location: Track out of Calico
• Police Pursuit — Seeing two police cars approach, Webb abandons his car and flees on foot. Characters: Webb Garwood Location: Near Calico
• Webb Is Shot — Webb refuses orders to surrender, and a sheriff's deputy shoots him from a distance. Characters: Webb Garwood Location: Near Calico

Story Breakdown

• The Affair Begins — Webb's investigation brings him into Susan's life and develops into an affair.
  • Prowler Report — Susan reports a prowler, and Webb investigates.
  • Secret Relationship — Webb becomes obsessed with Susan, and they begin an affair.
• The Murder Scheme — Webb turns the affair and the insurance policy into a plan to kill Susan's husband.
  • Insurance Discovery — Webb discovers the husband's life insurance policy.
  • Staged Prowler — Webb creates the appearance that a prowler is outside the house.
• A False Inquest — Webb stages evidence and Susan supports his false account, deceiving the inquest.
  • Staged Gunfire — Webb kills the husband and wounds himself to suggest an exchange of shots.
  • False Testimony — Webb and Susan deny knowing each other before the death.
• Pregnancy Threatens Exposure — Marriage fails to erase the consequences of the affair, as Susan's pregnancy threatens to reveal their lie.
  • Marriage — Webb marries Susan after convincing her he was innocent.
  • Paternity Revelation — Susan tells Webb she is four months pregnant and knows he is the father.
• Calico Hideout — Webb and Susan seek secrecy in a ghost town, but premature labor brings the crisis to them.
  • Flight to Calico — They flee so the baby can be born without anyone back home knowing.
  • Premature Labor — Susan enters labor, and Webb forces Doctor James to come help.
• The Doctor Escapes — Susan turns against Webb's plan to silence Doctor James and helps him escape.
  • Warning in Calico — Susan tells Doctor James that Webb intends to kill him.
  • Newborn and Keys — Doctor James escapes with the newborn and Webb's Cadillac keys.
• Webb's Final Flight — Exposed and pursued, Webb abandons Susan, attempts to escape, and is shot by a deputy.
  • Susan's Confrontation — Susan tells Webb that she knows he intended to kill the doctor and murdered her husband.
  • Pursuit and Shooting — Webb flees the blocked route on foot and is shot after refusing to surrender.

Directed by

Joseph Losey

Key Cast

• Van Heflin — Webb Garwood
• Evelyn Keyes — Susan Gilvray
• John Maxwell — Bud Crocker
• Katherine Warren — Grace Crocker
• Emerson Treacy — William Gilvray