A Fever in the Blood

A Fever In the Blood is a nice little package of a movie, and I don't mean this is a negative or condescending way. It has fairly low ambitions and achieves them nicely. It's a product of the tail end of the studio system, and was directed by the very able Vincent Sherman. The plot concerns political intrigue in contemporary (as of 1961) California. I saw the movie so long ago don't remember the details well but do remember being impressed by the performances, much stronger than I expected from such actors as Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Jack Kelly and Don Ameche. The ending was both predictable and highly satisfying. I recommend the film to those who want to see what studio film-making looked like when the studios were on their last legs, and for those curious about Hollywood's take on the American political system in the early, still optimistic sixties. There were a lot of much bigger and more ambitious films from the same time that are much better known--Advise and Consent and The Best Man come to mind--but A Fever In the Blood can hold its own in its modest way, especially as entertainment. It's not as thought-provoking as the bigger, more prestigious films from the same era but it has a retro charm all its own is easy to watch and plays fair with the viewer.