“Nightmare” (1956) written & directed by Maxwell Shane; starring Edward G. Robinson & Kevin McCarthy / Z-View

Nightmare (1956)

Director:  Maxwell Shane

Screenplay: Maxwell Shane; based on And So to Death by Cornell Woolrich

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell, Virginia Christine, Gage Clarke, Marian Carr,
Barry Atwater, John Mitchum, Cosmo Sardo and Rhys Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Stan Grayson (McCarthy) wakes from a restless night.  Stan dreamed he had a fought and killed a man.  When Stan notices strangle marks on his neck, blood on his wrist and a key that he’s never seen before, he begins to believe it wasn’t a dream.

Wracked with guilt and confusion, Stan tells his brother-in-law, New Orleans Detective Rene Bressard (Robinson) about the situation.  Bressard assures Stan it was just a dream.  Stan probably scratched himself as he was tossing and turning.  Stan isn’t so sure.

Things take a turn for the worse when it is discovered that a man was killed where Stan’s “dream” took place. Only the man wasn’t the only one murdered!  Is Stan a killer?  Has he been set up?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nightmare features a creative opening and a great mystery set-up.  Along the way we get a couple of unexpected turns.

If you’re a fan of mystery movies of this era, you should enjoy Nightmare.

Nightmare (1956) rates 3 of 5 stars.