This is an awesome film noir, deforest kelley and the rest of the cast did a bang up job at preforming in the action filled psycological thriller
shareI didn't think so. The room with mirrors was a little unbelievable...
But it's always fun to see TV faces in their early days.
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I'd say it was a minor but quite effective genre piece. The optical effects for the nightmares are the most visually effective moments. The script seems a little thin even for the relatively brief running time - perhaps it follows the short story a little too closely, I don't know, and it could do with an extra level or two of complexity.
The Region 2 DVD I have from Odeon Entertainment appears to be from an, at times, slightly damaged 16mm print. It's certainly watchable but not ideal. I only paid a pound or so for it second-hand from a charity shop but if you paid a lot more for it you might be annoyed by the print quality.
Still it seems to be rare - I've never noticed it on TV in the UK at least - so I'm glad to have had the opportunity to see it.
I just watched this on Netflix steaming service (US). It was a very spotty print. The sound track was also extremely muffled, making it very hard to understand. It's a good thing it was such a simple plot, not too dialog heavy.
"Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid." John Wayne
I'm just here to get opinions whether this movie is any good or not. I'm OK with most free films rated "6" or better! BTW...I like your John Wayne quote!
shareI really liked it. My favourite part was when Cliff slapped him... he was real good at playing the vulnerable young man!
shareI agree, this is a very enjoyable film. The "kitchen" slapping scene was probably the best in the film. I also thought the attempted suicide scene was very dramatic too, but would he really jump out of the 9th. story hotel window with his sister asleep in the car parked right in front of the hotel, just a few feet from where his body would land?
Paul Kelly played an excellent part as well. I must confess I get a laugh out of Ann Doran's occasionally squeaking voice, especially when all 4 of the main characters are in the car going to an impromptu picnic. Paul Kelly's character is taking too long to find just the rtght spot to stop and have their picnic and his wife, (played by Ann) exclaims with her voice squeakily rising in pitch "Well STOP then". Makes me laugh every time.
No slight on her though, she plays a fine part.
The copy I watched is on the "100 Mystery Classics" DVD box set from Mill Creek.This is a set of 100 Mystery/Crime/Suspense style movies. All are in the public domain. I paid $15.86 including shipping for a brand new sealed copy on Ebay (in 2010). The set has 24 double sided DVD's with two movies on each individual DVD side, making 4 movies on one DVD ( a few discs have 3 movies per side). On some of the movies the soundtrack has deteriorated noticeably. (I copied some of the movies to my computer and then tweaked the audio tracks, boosting the high frequencies quiite a bit and increasing slightly the overall volume. I then reburned them to a new DVD. At thisprice point Mill Creek attempted no restoration although the audio could have been improved easily by Mill Creek with very little effort when they mastered the set. Some reviewers on Amazon complain the audio is so bad on some movies on this set that they cannot hear the dialog clearly. Fortunately the audio quality of "Fear" is passable on this set, but no better than that.)
Amazing how well these Film Noir movies hold up after all these decades. I remember seeing this on television (before there was a Turner Network) as a child and how it kept my attention then and it still does. One of the better films in the genre!
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@filmbuff, I've only seen one old film online that had very bad images, and I enjoy the 'remastered' films the best! (better audio and video).
shareI'm watching it on YouTube. The image is very clear most of the time, and I have the volume down, which clears up the iffy sound. I am certain I saw this one a very long time ago, likely before "Star Trek" debuted.
What a great debut for De Kelley=} The struggle on the window sill was particularly effective. The goof says that it goes from night to day, but I didn't notice it. Maybe it's because I'm watching in the wee hours of the morning, with a rather fibrofoggy mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvs6sHVtkEQ
*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***
___I agree with an earlier poster, I seriously also doubt the character would have jumped from the hotel knowing he would likely land on his sister's car. However, it was dramatically staged for an overall poor film. It is interesting to see so young a DeForest Kelly, and the wonderful period street scenes.The plot was wildly convoluted for this timeframe.
shareDorianGray: I tend to disagree a little because I see DeForrest's character to be a bit on the quietly desperate side and he just wasn't thinking! He felt like he was absolutely at the end of this rope and he did not think he would ever get out of it "alive"... He was beyond despondent...he couldn't sleep or think straight. I dunno, people in that state could not be in a position to reason well at all.
Who knows what goes through the mind of a person in that situation?
Enrique Sanchez