Sudden Fear :1952 movie starring Joan Crawford as an heiress and stageplay writer who gets seduced by an actor (Jack Palance) that she rejected because he did not have classical good looks to be a romantic lead in her latest play.The first third of the movie plays like a typical romance picture with the courtship and marriage of Crawford and Palance.The movie has some terrible plotholes-without giving away anything- the suspense is added to the third act because the lead character ( a smart playwright) made several stupid decisions- instead of reacting logically.Skip it- suspend disbelief and enjoy the fine third act- a griping mix of noirish hallucinations and suspense with one of the best prop shots in any movie.The final payoff is satisfying if a little contrived- but the 15 minute segment before the final scene is engaging and well played out.Not a perfect film noir- but worth the investment of time.The Kino DVD was lacking in any extra features. B
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Virginia
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Re: Sudden Fear
Thu, February 8, 2007 - 1:54 PMthis is one of my favorites. if you like san francisco noir, it's got a lot of local color, and gloria graham is sexy as hell, if that's not redundant to say about her. i'd read the dvd was poor quality: did you find that to be so?
two of my favorite moments (and i don't think saying the lines out of context will give anything away to anyone but dj joe):
'what did i do to deserve you?'
and
'horses that owe me money.'
i've seen this movie at the castro theatre a couple times, and the audience always hoots and hollers at joan's outfits.
