The Fearmakers is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Dana Andrews.[1] The screenplay is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Darwin Teilhet. The film centers on seemingly nonpartisan political messages that are shaped by a public-relations firm secretly controlled by communists determined to undermine the American government.[2][3]
| The Fearmakers | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jacques Tourneur |
| Screenplay by | Elliot West Chris Appley |
| Based on | The Fear Makers 1945 novel by Darwin Teilhet |
| Produced by | Martin H. Lancer |
| Starring | Dana Andrews |
| Cinematography | Sam Leavitt |
| Edited by | James Whittredge |
| Music by | Irving Gertz |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | Pacemaker |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editKorean War veteran Alan Eaton, who suffered through brainwashing as a P.O.W., returns home and resumes his job at a public-relation and opinion-research firm in Washington, D.C. His partner has been killed mysteriously in an accident, and he discovers that his company has been taken over by communist infiltrators intent on fixing public opinion polls and promoting communist organizations. To stop them, Eaton cooperates with a Senate investigation.
Cast
edit- Dana Andrews as Alan Eaton
- Dick Foran as Jim McGinnis
- Marilee Earle as Lorraine Dennis
- Veda Ann Borg as Vivian Loder
- Kelly Thordsen as Harold 'Hal' Loder
- Roy Gordon as Sen. Walder
- Joel Marston as Rodney Hillyer
- Dennis Moore as Army Doctor
- Oliver Blake as Dr. Gregory Jessup
- Janet Brandt as Walder's Secretary
- Fran Andrade as TWA Stewardess
- Mel Tormé as Barney Bond (as Mel Tormé)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The Fearmakers at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- ^ Screen Enemies of the American Way: Political Paranoia About Nazis, Communists, Saboteurs, Terrorists and Body Snatching Aliens in Film and Television by Fraser A. Sherman pg. 54
- ^ Hollywood's Cold War By Tony Shaw pg. 49-50
External links
edit- The Fearmakers at IMDb
- The Fearmakers at AllMovie
- The Fearmakers at the TCM Movie Database
- The Fearmakers at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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