Category: Z-View

Sudden Fear (1952)

Director: David Miller

Screenplay: Lenore J. Coffee, Robert Smith; based on SUDDEN FEAR by Edna Sherry

Stars: Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, Gloria Grahame, Bruce Bennett, Virginia Huston,  Taylor Holmes, Selmer Jackson, Lewis Martin and Mike Connors.

Tagline:  A Thrilling New High In Suspense Melodrama!

The Plot…

Myra Hudson is a successful Broadway playwright and producer.  Her every production is a success.  She’s powerful, rich and single.  On a train ride across country Myra has a chance meeting with Lester Baine.  He’s an actor that Myra fired from one of her productions not too long ago.

Myra is apologetic, yet Lester says, “No apology needed.”  They talk a bit and really hit it off.  Lester is witty and charming.  Before the train ride is over, Myra is falling in love.  A whirlwind courtship and marriage follow.

What Myra doesn’t know is that Lester doesn’t love her.  It’s an act to gain access to Myra’s money and prestige.  In fact, Lester is having an affair with his old flame (and fellow grifter) Irene.

Myra is so in love with Lester, she decides to secretly revise her will.  She will leave him everything should she die.  Lester learns that Myra is planning to change her will.  He doesn’t know that the change would benefit him.  Lester decides to kill Myra before the change is made.  He recruits Irene and they plan the murder.

Myra accidentally learns that Lester is cheating on her and he very soon he will kill her.  Myra’s shock turns to disbelief, then fear and then a plan for revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Sudden Fear was nominated for four 1953 Academy Awards…

• Nominee for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White – Sheila O’Brien
• Nominee for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Charles Lang
• Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jack Palance
• Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Joan Crawford

Sudden Fear marked Jack Palance’s first Best Supporting Actor Academy Award Nomination.  He would earn his second Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination the following year for his performance in Shane.

Joan Crawford not only starred in Sudden Fear, she also served as the film’s Executive Producer.  She was hands-on. Crawford personally selected the film’s screenwriter (Lenore J. Coffee), the director (David Miller), the cinematographer (Charles Lang) and her co-stars (Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame).

Because Joan Crawford optioned the rights to Edna Sherry’s novel, Crawford had more control over the production.  Crawford gambled and took 40% of the film’s profits rather than her normal $200,000.00 salary.  The gamble paid off when the film was a huge success.

Sudden Fear features Mike Connor’s first feature film role.  He is billed as Touch Connor.

Based on the film’s Oscar nominations and reviews, most folks liked Sudden Fear A LOT more than me.  I found Sudden Fear to be overly melodramtic.  I did enjoy the surprise at the end, but felt that much of the danger and suspense could have been easily avoided with better choices from the Joan Crawford character.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Sudden Fear (1952) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Seven Days in May (1964)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Screenplay: Rod Serling; based on SEVEN DAYS IN MAY by Fletcher Knebel, Charles W. Bailey II

Stars: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, Helen Kleeb, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Bart Burns, John Alban, Al Bain, John Houseman, Ferris Webster, Kent McCord and Malcolm Atterbury.

Tagline:  “I’m suggesting Mr President, there’s a military plot to take over the Government of these United States, next Sunday…”

The Plot…

Set during the Cold War.  President Jordan Lyman’s popularity is at an all-time low. He’s just signed a nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia.  Many believe the Russians can’t be trusted.  Protests across the country have grown violent.  Some fear that Russia will renig on the treaty leaving the US unprotected.  Others think that if both countries don’t begin to disarm at some point the nukes will be used.

General James Mattoon Scott is the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He’s a highly popular, highly decorated Air Force Ace.  Colonel Martin “Jiggs” Casey is the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  His role is to assist the Joint Chiefs, particularly General Scott.  Privately, neither think Russia can be trusted to keep their part of the disarmament treaty.

Colonel Casey notices some strange messages left for General Mattoon.  This leads to his discovery that in seven days General Mattoon and several other military leaders plan a coup.  They plan to overthrow the President and take control of the government.

Colonel Casey speaks to the President in private.  At first the President can’t believe it.  But the evidence is there.  Unsure of who they can trust, the President, a few trusted aides and Colonel Casey must find a way to stop a coup led by the most popular military leader of the era.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Seven Days in May was nominated for two 1965 Academy Awards…

• Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White – Cary Odell, Edward G. Boyle
• Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Edmond O’Brien

At a dinner with President Kennedy, Kirk Douglas was asked if he was adapting the novel SEVEN DAYS IN MAY.  When Douglas said that he was, President Kennedy spoke to him at length about how great a movie it would be.  President Kennedy granted set designers access to the White House to assist with an accurate look.

Seven Days in May was set to be released in December 1963.  The release was pushed back due to the assassination of JFK.

Seven Days in May marks John Houseman’s first (although uncredited) feature film role.

Kent McCord best known as Officer Jim Reed on Adam-12 appears as uncredited in a non-speaking role as a Secret Service agent.

Although released in 1964, the film is set in the near future.  Teleconferencing, digital displays, wall screens and the like look ancient now, but then they weren’t in use and appeared slightly futuristic.

The film features one of my favorite comeback lines when General Scott asks Colonel Casey if he knows who Judas was.

Seven Days in May (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.