Sudden fear is a 1952 american film noir thriller directed by david miller, and starring joan. Read the full synopsis of sudden fear, 1952, directed by david miller, with joan crawford, jack palance, gloria grahame, at turner classic movies. The joan crawford filmography lists the film appearances of american actress joan crawford, who starred in numerous feature films throughout a lengthy career that spanned nearly five decades she made her film debut in lady of the night 1925 as a body double for film star norma shearer. With her husband, a bourgeois girl she saves from drowning, her secretary and her financial advisor. Joan crawford plays a successful and wealthy playwright who falls in love and marries jack pa1ance. Joan crawford plays a wealthy playwright in complete command of her life. Sudden fear appealed to me right away as a fan of filmnoir, classic film and thrillers. Joans first independent film, which she coproduced.
I never thought this film would get a full overhaul so if you are a joan. Lombard street, san francisco blaine stays in the apartment at 10011005 lombard street at leavenworth street, at the foot of the famed crookedest street in the world, though the film is careful to edit out hudsons car negotiating the series of eight switchbacks which might have raised a. The film follows myra hudson, a wealthy broadway playwright, as she marries lester blaine, a struggling actor, and discovers that he is plotting to murder her and inherit her vast fortune. Good acting enlivens a bythebook, gimmickladen plot, with every moment designed to flatter the star. They spend their honeymoon at myras summer house, a delightful waterfront home on a steep hillside with spectacular views. Joan crawford portrays a successful, independently wealthy playwright who fires. The mere thought of an isolation cell panicked the prisoners be overcome by a sudden fear.
Sudden fear, for all of its classic noir reputation, can for me best be described as an homage to joan crawfords face. Joan crawford in sudden fear 1952 jack palance in sudden fear 1952. The femme fatale gets the majority of credit for the most deceitful behavior in film noir, but the homme fatale portrayed by jack palance in sudden fear deserves special mention. David miller, the director, has taken full advantage of the citys steep streets and panoramic views. The joan crawford filmography lists the film appearances of american actress joan crawford, who starred in numerous feature films throughout a lengthy career that spanned nearly five decades. Train ride west grand central terminal, manhattan oakland pier, 7th street, oakland. Starring joan crawford, jack palance and gloria grahame new restoration 1952, david miller sure jack palance is steamed when heiressplaywright joan crawford cans him from the leading role in her latest drama. Sudden fear is just another film that makes me certain marriage is the most dangerous. Cohen film collectionbased in columbus, ohio has finally brought sudden fear to bluray for the first time this week and the results should more than please fans of the film. Every kiss a breathtaking experience myra hudson crawford is a successful broadway playwright who rejects lester blaine palance as the lead in her new play. Why doesnt crawford, as soon as she hears the incriminating tape, simply go to the. The balcony post outside the window though is real, it can be seen above. David millers sudden fear is a tragic film noir misstep with honorable artistic intentions but a clumsy, fumbled execution.
Later, she meets lester, is swept off her feet, and, after a brief courtship, marries him. Sudden fear crossword answers, clues, definition, synonyms. Sudden fear was first released on vhs by kino video. Featuring gaunt yet imposing newcomer jack palance as myras scheming spouse, lester is already a quietly threatening presence even before myra accidentally discovers. Sudden fear 1952 cohen, bluray, her first film after being released from warner bros. Joan crawford, jack palance, gloria grahame, bruce bennett director. She becomes embroiled in a tangled plot of murder, a double cross, jealous rivals, a frame job and a counter attack. Oscar nominations for best black and white cinematography, best actress and best supporting actor. Jack palance plays an ambitious actor rebuffed by playwright and heiress joan. Poster for sudden fear shows joan crawford in a scene from the film. For the film shoot the room was converted to a bedroom. Lesters scheme progresses well he and myra have become newlyweds. With joan crawford, jack palance, gloria grahame, bruce bennett. Sep 18, 2014 sudden fear 1952 joan crawford x time goes by.
Joan crawford gives a fine, if melodramatic performance, and jack palance is amazingly effective playing against type as a leading man. Joan crawford controls every aspect of this glamorous, oscar nominated noir about a murderous marriage doublecross. Museum years ago, and it was great fun on the big screen. She made this movie the same year as her oscar for the bad and the beautiful, but sudden fear gives grahame the more substantial partscheming, venal, but inspiring some pity by the end. Sudden fear is a 1952 american film noir thriller directed by david miller, and starring joan crawford, gloria grahame and jack palance. Lobby card for sudden fear shows joan crawford and jack palance in scenes from the film. She appeared in several other films before she made her major breakthrough playing lon chaneys love. Sudden fear1952 has been one of the most requested films from fans of both film noir. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. Sudden fear 1952 joan crawford, jack palance, gloria. In so many ways, sudden fear feels like quintessential crawford, and peak 1952, starting with the credits. One of this noir classics highlights is a masterfullystaged sequence when palances phony lester blaine wants to prove his honor to his significant other. Theres a notably suspenseful climax, but sudden fear is so strident at times that it looks like a.
Through the darkest distillation of deception, he stages. After an ambitious actor insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy middleaged playwright and marries her, he plots with his mistress to murder her. She made her film debut in lady of the night 1925 as a body double for film star norma shearer. That being the first third of the movie that painfully setups a rather basic plot. The film has an exciting and surprising climax as all meet unexpectedly during the chase.
She is a member of the new york film critics circle. Im looking forward to listening to that track in the near future. This was filmed inside the house in the end room on the right at the exterior balcony level above. There is not a shot in this film that isnt necessary to its dramatic progression. Top boxoffice hits of 1952, variety, january 7, 1953. Aug 11, 2016 sudden fear plays august 12 to 18 at film forum. As any older film that is enjoying a sudden reappreciation, the audiences gets to see clearly what didnt work. Sudden fear bluray disc, 2016 for sale online ebay. For enhanced viewing, a good quality restoration is now available on a bluray disc by the cohen film collection. Joan crawford plays a successful and wealthy playwright who falls in love and marries a mediocre actor jack palance who, she discovers, only married her for her money and with the aid of an old flame, plans to murder her. Film noir themes and motifs within sudden fear should be spotted by fans of the genre without much trouble. Featuring joan crawford at her grande dame victimturnedavenger best, sudden fear 1952 pits crawfords playwrightheiress myra against fortunehunting husband lester and his equally greedy girlfriend irene.
In 2006, the film was also released as part of film noir the dark side of hollywood dvd box set by kino video. Sudden fear 1952 david miller synopsis, characteristics. Sudden fear is available on bluray from the cohen film collection, with a commentary track by jeremy arnold. A triumphant hit for crawford, sudden fear garnered oscar nominations for best actress, supporting actor, cinematography and costumes. Officially classified as a film noirthriller, the film feels like what alfred hitchcock would churn out after he ate a rather sizable thanksgiving meal. My first joan film was harriet craig, complete camp in every way, not really comparable to the roz russell version, craigs wife. A glossy, wellpaced thriller with plenty of suspense. Joan crawford in sudden fear on cohen media channel. A fine example of a classic edge of your seat thriller. It does get off to a slow start with some uneventful storytelling and parts that could easily have been trimmed, but when it gets going it is just an excellent film, as a filmnoir, thriller and a film in general, with a riveting and very suspenseful second. Sudden fear 1952 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Farran smith nehme writes about classic film on her blog, selfstyled siren, and recently published her first novel, missing reels. The students panicked when told that final exams were less than a week away an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety. Sudden fear 2001 following a whirlwind courtship, acclaimed playwright myra hudson joan crawford marries lester blaine jack palance, a slick actor she has just fired from her latest play. Aside from 1932s rain and 1946s humoresque, i cant think of another crawford film that relies more heavily on joans facial expressiveness to propel the picture. Sudden fear by david miller david miller, joan crawford. Kino also released the film on region 1 dvd in 2003. Sep 25, 20 a rediscovered masterpiece of film noir. Harry potter complete 8film collection dvd us shipping.
Sudden fear datesshowtimes friday, august 12 to thursday, august daily except sun 12. Nominated for four academy awards, sudden fear is an unbeatable combination of lush melodrama and dropdead suspense. Sudden fear is one of those noir gems about a lovehate relationship between a husband and wife thats doomed from the very beginning. Mirrors are used to show the hidden truth, as when hudsons lawyer steve kearney bruce bennett appears worried about blaines motivations, or when blaine is shown scheming behind his wifes back. Coffee and robert smith was based upon the novel of the same name by edna sherry. Like many underrecognized treasures, david millers sudden fear fits into and defies different genres, its conventionscrambling partly the result of the fact that the film looks both forward and.
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