Tenson (1950) Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Cyd Charisse,

A mousy drugstore manager contemplates murder after his conniving wife leaves him for another man. He devises a complex plan, which involves assuming a new identity, to make it look like someone else murdered her new boyfriend. Things take an unexpected turn after someone else commits the murder, and he becomes the prime suspect. "Tension" is noted for its exploration of sex roles in film noir, particularly its portrayal of the femme fatale (played by Audrey Totter) as a "ball-breaker". The film's suspense and intricate plot also make it a compelling example of the genre.