IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.9K
YOUR RATING
After an ambitious actor insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy middle-aged playwright and marries her, he plots with his mistress to murder her.After an ambitious actor insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy middle-aged playwright and marries her, he plots with his mistress to murder her.After an ambitious actor insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy middle-aged playwright and marries her, he plots with his mistress to murder her.
- Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total
Mike Connors
- Junior Kearney
- (as Touch Conners)
Rodney Bell
- Aggressive Drunk on Street
- (uncredited)
Lulu Mae Bohrman
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
George Chan
- Julius - the Butler
- (uncredited)
Estelle Etterre
- Eve Ralston
- (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
Sam Harris
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
Taylor Holmes
- Scott Martindale
- (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson
- Dr. Van Roan
- (uncredited)
Lewis Martin
- Bill - the Play Director
- (uncredited)
Harold Miller
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
Ewing Mitchell
- Bridge Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Arthur Space
- George Ralston
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAs the film's executive producer, Joan Crawford was heavily involved in all aspects of the production. She personally hired Lenore J. Coffee as the film's screenwriter, David Miller as director and suggested Elmer Bernstein as composer. She insisted on Charles Lang being hired as the film's cinematographer and personally cast Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame as her co-stars.
- GoofsWhen Junior brings Irene to her apartment and refuses to leave, she tries twice to close the door. Each time, a stagehand's hand can be seen reaching for the knob from out in the hall, a common practice on stage sets if a door doesn't latch properly or stay closed.
- Quotes
Myra Hudson: I was just wondering what I'd done to deserve you.
- Crazy creditsOne of the few films with an itemized credits listing for each wardrobe category designer.
- Alternate versionsThe previous 1999 DVD release was slightly altered. The sudden fear sequence eliminates only about eight seconds but noteworthy ones, showing Joan Crawford's falling from a building, and being smothered by the Jack Palance character. These have been restored in the new 2016 Cohen Media Group blu-ray release.
- ConnectionsEdited into Mrs. Harris (2005)
- SoundtracksAfraid
by Elmer Bernstein and Jack Brooks
Featured review
Sudden Fear (1952)
Such a dark and dramatic, noir-styled surprise for me. Joan Crawford as the rich daughter and talented playwright is terrific, avoiding the camp of later years and really playing a complex, emotional role perfectly. I didn't even notice that Gloria Grahame was in it, and when she shows up I knew there was going to be a thrill--she balances Crawford, and gives the third main actor, Jack Palance, a way to bounce back and forth. And Palance, as a seeming actor/lover, is two-sided and then some, and really gives the part depth. He's so believably likably it's chilling.
Add to this some of the darkest, and most shadowy, night photography you've seen, and a hard hitting orchestral score, and fast editing up and down the streets of San Francisco, and you've got a gem. It's an amazing, over-the-top movie, but it makes sense, and the last shot of Joan Crawford at night (I'll say no more) is astonishing for its emotional shifts. Yes, there is Mildred Pierce and countless other great Crawford films, but for her performance alone you have to see this one. Director David Miller I've never heard of and may never hear of again judging by his film history, but he pulls off a stylish, intense masterpiece. It's filled with common types and common twists, but a lot of them, and well done, well done.
Such a dark and dramatic, noir-styled surprise for me. Joan Crawford as the rich daughter and talented playwright is terrific, avoiding the camp of later years and really playing a complex, emotional role perfectly. I didn't even notice that Gloria Grahame was in it, and when she shows up I knew there was going to be a thrill--she balances Crawford, and gives the third main actor, Jack Palance, a way to bounce back and forth. And Palance, as a seeming actor/lover, is two-sided and then some, and really gives the part depth. He's so believably likably it's chilling.
Add to this some of the darkest, and most shadowy, night photography you've seen, and a hard hitting orchestral score, and fast editing up and down the streets of San Francisco, and you've got a gem. It's an amazing, over-the-top movie, but it makes sense, and the last shot of Joan Crawford at night (I'll say no more) is astonishing for its emotional shifts. Yes, there is Mildred Pierce and countless other great Crawford films, but for her performance alone you have to see this one. Director David Miller I've never heard of and may never hear of again judging by his film history, but he pulls off a stylish, intense masterpiece. It's filled with common types and common twists, but a lot of them, and well done, well done.
- secondtake
- Feb 15, 2010
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Miedo súbito
- Filming locations
- 2800 Scott Street, San Francisco, California, USA(Myra's residence)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $720,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $24,476
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,126
- Aug 14, 2016
- Gross worldwide
- $24,759
- Runtime1 hour 50 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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