Movie - Sudden fear

Movie – Sudden fear 

Score : 5/10

Year : 1952

Director:  David Miller

Cinematography: Charles Lang

Music : Elmer Bernstein (director of) 

Country: USA

Language: English 

Duration: 1h46 

Writers: Lenore J. Coffee and Robert Smith (screenplay) ; 

Joan Crawford (uncredited collaborating writer)

Edna Sherry (eponymous novel) 

For a change, I kinda preferred the french title for this movie (torn mask), as the original, Sudden fear, doesn't fully suit the movie. It's based on an eponymous novel by Edna Sherry, which I haven't read, so I cannot attest to adaptation quality ; I found this movie entertaining, with potential, but lacking in some respects. 

The story's simple enough : Lester Blaine is am ambitious actor, who insinuates himself into the life of a middle-aged playwright, with a plot to her wealth. 

The movie did have potential, and for its time, isn't all that bad ; I didn't anticipate a mind-boggling story, and found the overall acting to be good, especially by Palance and Crawford most convincing in the cast. They both portrayed their respective roles well, with good body language and facial expressions - Crawford is quite good at this part. 

There were a few predictable parts, but also red herrings. 

There were a few hints to open the viewer's interpretation to other possible background stories. 

Cinematography was ok, even creative at times, but doesn't stand out nor shines with special views - though I cannot attest to proper appearance, as I watched this on a dvd from the library. 

There were a few issues : 

Elmer Bernseing's music was abysmal. Sound was a huge problem, alternating between muttered phrases, and really loud sounds, such as of trains and shouts. 

Dialogues were limited to set the plot, but not to build characters. 

Some dubious artistic and directorial choices, including repetitious echoes a character hears ; a disc stuck at its end far too long before it is stopped, and imagined scenarios. These all give the distinct impression they are fillers. 

Writer shows lack of knowledge of women's habits. 

Sudden fear's ending wasn't very predictable, as hints to it occur only just before it happens ; in this respect, the movie shifted away from totally expected plots. It doesn't really innovate, but maybe for its time stood out a bit more. 

Despite its issues, it was entertaining ; because of them, however, I don't plan watching it again. Hence the medium score of 5/10 : it had potential, the things that worked, worked really well, and the parts that didn't work, didn't work at all. 

Cast: 

Joan Crawford , Jack Palance, Gloria Grahame, Bruce Bennett, Virginia Huston, Mike Connors. Et al.