Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Of 2024Holiday PicksSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Sudden Fear

  • 1952
  • Approved
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.9K
YOUR RATING
Joan Crawford in Sudden Fear (1952)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:20
1 Video
48 Photos
Film NoirPsychological ThrillerThriller

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.

  • Director
    • David Miller
  • Writers
    • Lenore J. Coffee
    • Robert Smith
    • Edna Sherry
  • Stars
    • Joan Crawford
    • Jack Palance
    • Gloria Grahame
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    7.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Miller
    • Writers
      • Lenore J. Coffee
      • Robert Smith
      • Edna Sherry
    • Stars
      • Joan Crawford
      • Jack Palance
      • Gloria Grahame
    • 135User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Sudden Fear
    Trailer 1:20
    Sudden Fear

    Photos48

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 42
    View Poster

    Top cast21

    Edit
    Joan Crawford
    Joan Crawford
    • Myra Hudson Blaine
    Jack Palance
    Jack Palance
    • Lester Blaine
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Irene Neves
    Bruce Bennett
    Bruce Bennett
    • Steve Kearney
    Virginia Huston
    Virginia Huston
    • Ann Taylor
    Mike Connors
    Mike Connors
    • Junior Kearney
    • (as Touch Conners)
    Rodney Bell
    • Aggressive Drunk on Street
    • (uncredited)
    Lulu Mae Bohrman
    • Reception Guest
    • (uncredited)
    George Chan
    George Chan
    • Julius - the Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Estelle Etterre
    Estelle Etterre
    • Eve Ralston
    • (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers
    Bess Flowers
    • Reception Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Harris
    Sam Harris
    • Reception Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Taylor Holmes
    Taylor Holmes
    • Scott Martindale
    • (uncredited)
    Selmer Jackson
    Selmer Jackson
    • Dr. Van Roan
    • (uncredited)
    Lewis Martin
    Lewis Martin
    • Bill - the Play Director
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Miller
    Harold Miller
    • Reception Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Ewing Mitchell
    • Bridge Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Space
    Arthur Space
    • George Ralston
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Miller
    • Writers
      • Lenore J. Coffee
      • Robert Smith
      • Edna Sherry
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Possessed
    7.1
    Possessed
    In This Our Life
    7.3
    In This Our Life
    Queen Bee
    6.7
    Queen Bee
    Autumn Leaves
    6.8
    Autumn Leaves
    The Damned Don't Cry
    7.1
    The Damned Don't Cry
    Harriet Craig
    7.3
    Harriet Craig
    Strait-Jacket
    6.8
    Strait-Jacket
    Mildred Pierce
    7.9
    Mildred Pierce
    The Crooked Way
    6.6
    The Crooked Way
    Sorry, Wrong Number
    7.3
    Sorry, Wrong Number
    The Big Combo
    7.3
    The Big Combo
    I Walk Alone
    7.0
    I Walk Alone

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As 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.
    • Goofs
      When 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 credits
      One of the few films with an itemized credits listing for each wardrobe category designer.
    • Alternate versions
      The 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.
    • Connections
      Edited into Mrs. Harris (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Afraid
      by Elmer Bernstein and Jack Brooks

    User reviews135

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    I know a way..I know a way...I know a way...I know....

    "Sudden fear" is everything a good thriller should be.An inventive use of the recorder (an antique today!);The "revenge is a dish best eaten cold" subject masterfully treated;The "flashforwards" in the conditional tense -the "accidents" ,"Irene's schedule"-;the things which seem banal and which play a prominent part in the story:the clock,the wind-up toy,the mirror,all contributes to building a film full of suspense .The three leads ,Joan Crawford , a wealthy lady getting old and thinking she 's found true love,Jack Palance ,not the romantic lead of her play but a disturbing character ,and Gloria Grahame at her bitchiest are terrific.

    Like this?Try these.......

    "Sorry wrong number" Anatole Litvak 1948

    "Dial M for Murder" Alfred Hitchcock 1954

    "Les Diaboliques" Henri Georges Clouzot 1955

    "Sleep my love" Douglas Sirk 1948
    • dbdumonteil
    • Sep 8, 2007
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is Sudden Fear?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 15, 1952 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Streaming on "Chris T" YouTube Channel
      • Streaming on "Full Moon Matinee" YouTube Channel
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Miedo súbito
    • Filming locations
      • 2800 Scott Street, San Francisco, California, USA(Myra's residence)
    • Production company
      • Joseph Kaufman Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $720,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,476
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,126
      • Aug 14, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $24,759
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Joan Crawford in Sudden Fear (1952)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Sudden Fear (1952) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.