SUDDEN FEAR

Joan Crawford

SUDDEN FEAR (1952). Director: David Miller. Colorized. 

Wealthy playwright Myra Hudson (Joan Crawford) turns down the actor Lester Blaine (Jack Palance) for a role in her new stage work because he lacks "romantic" looks. Nevertheless, Blaine seems more than romantic enough when she encounters him on a train to California and he wins her over. It isn't long before the two are dating, and then married, living in her fabulous San Francisco mansion. But one day Myra hears something that was inadvertently recorded on her dictaphone, and realizes with a sickening shock that Lester may not be as enamored of her as she thought. Her money, however, is a different matter. The feisty Myra makes up her mind to fight back ... 

Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame

Sudden Fear not only features an exemplary Crawford performance -- she received an Oscar nomination -- but is an excellent, suspenseful thriller that has tense moments that remind one of Hitchcock. The film's climax, set all over the rolling streets of the city (but actually filmed in Los Angeles unlike the rest of the movie), is outstanding. Crawford isn't the only cast member operating at top level: Jack Palance  -- nominated for a supporting Oscar -- and Gloria Grahame as his lover are also on target all the way through, and there's fine work from Mike Connors [Voodoo Woman] in his first role, billed as "Touch" Connors; Virginia Huston [Flight to Mars]; and Bruce Bennett. It's fun seeing Crawford exchanging small talk with Arthur Space of Panther Girl of the Kongo in a party scene. Fine David Miller direction, a good score from Elmer Bernstein, crisp Charles Lang cinematography, and very sharp editing by Leon Barsha. This version is also beautifully colorized, which only adds to its appeal. NOTE: To read further analysis of the film and go behind the scenes read Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography by Quirk and Schoell. 

Verdict: One could quibble about certain illogical plot points, but basically this is all systems go! ***1/2.