Sudden fear (1952)
Myra Hudson (Joan Crawford) is a rich heiress who is also successful play writer in New York. She is overlooking a rehearsal of her latest play, 'Halfway to Heaven' when she commented that the auditioned actor, even though presented his dialogues succinctly, was not macho enough for Myra. The said actor, Lester Blaine (Jack Palance), goes off but not without giving a piece of his mind that even Casanova (from a portrait that he saw) had a deformed face and rough features.
Another actor takes over the role and the play goes on to be a hit. Myra goes off on a long train ride to San Francisco on a well deserved break.
At the railway, she bumps into Lester. Even though Lester had apparently forgotten their previous encounter and had moved on with life, Myra felt that she owes him an apology. The banter goes on to drinks and laughter. Lester even extended his ticket from Chicago all the way to her destination.
One thing lead another and Myra and Lester are married. Everything seem smooth sailing until a certain Irene Neves turns up as Myra's lawyer's brother's (Mike Connors, his big hit was Mannix) girlfriend to disturb the tranquility.
We find out that Lester and Irene are lovers and they were out to cheat Myra off her money.
Lester later discovers that Myra was planning to donate a substantial amount of money to a heart foundation. He tries to get some money off Myra.
Myra's lawyer prepare a will for her. Unhappy with the meagre inheritance left for Lester, Myra dictates her proposal on a Dictaphone (an old dictating machine). She accidentally left the machine on, only to discover Lester and Irene's plan to murder her before the weekend was over!
She planned to hide the only available evidence to show it to the police later but in the excitement, the record fell and broke unto smithereens. Left with Hobson's choice, as her lawyer and her friends were all out of town, she had to take care of herself.
Here, we see good high-wire suspense of the crooks and the victim trying to outwit each other. She comes out of the whole imbroglio shaken and stirred but alive as her quick thinking and luck ended up both crooks killing each other.
Truly, Joan Crawford is the star of this movie. Her big starry eyed looked is suitable to portray all kinds of emotions to perfection, be it joy, love-struck, anxiety, fear or hysteria! This film was nominated for 4 academy awards.
Myra Hudson (Joan Crawford) is a rich heiress who is also successful play writer in New York. She is overlooking a rehearsal of her latest play, 'Halfway to Heaven' when she commented that the auditioned actor, even though presented his dialogues succinctly, was not macho enough for Myra. The said actor, Lester Blaine (Jack Palance), goes off but not without giving a piece of his mind that even Casanova (from a portrait that he saw) had a deformed face and rough features.Another actor takes over the role and the play goes on to be a hit. Myra goes off on a long train ride to San Francisco on a well deserved break.
At the railway, she bumps into Lester. Even though Lester had apparently forgotten their previous encounter and had moved on with life, Myra felt that she owes him an apology. The banter goes on to drinks and laughter. Lester even extended his ticket from Chicago all the way to her destination.
 |
| Jack Palance |
| Mike Connors |
Lester later discovers that Myra was planning to donate a substantial amount of money to a heart foundation. He tries to get some money off Myra.
Myra's lawyer prepare a will for her. Unhappy with the meagre inheritance left for Lester, Myra dictates her proposal on a Dictaphone (an old dictating machine). She accidentally left the machine on, only to discover Lester and Irene's plan to murder her before the weekend was over!
She planned to hide the only available evidence to show it to the police later but in the excitement, the record fell and broke unto smithereens. Left with Hobson's choice, as her lawyer and her friends were all out of town, she had to take care of herself.
Here, we see good high-wire suspense of the crooks and the victim trying to outwit each other. She comes out of the whole imbroglio shaken and stirred but alive as her quick thinking and luck ended up both crooks killing each other.
Truly, Joan Crawford is the star of this movie. Her big starry eyed looked is suitable to portray all kinds of emotions to perfection, be it joy, love-struck, anxiety, fear or hysteria! This film was nominated for 4 academy awards.
Comments
Post a Comment