Sudden Fear (1952): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Sudden Fear is a 1952 thriller directed by David Miller, starring Jack Palance as Lester Blaine, Joan Crawford and Gloria Grahame. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $24,759 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- David Miller
- Genre
- Thriller
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Joseph Kaufman Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Sudden Fear About?
The premise of Sudden Fear without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Lester Blaine, a talented actor, is about to win the lead in Myra Hudson’s new play, but she rejects him, saying he lacks the look of a romantic hero. Determined, he follows her on the New York–San Francisco train, trying to win her over. As their bond deepens, doubts arise whether his motives are sincere or hidden.
Sudden Fear Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- older woman younger man relationship
- san francisco california
- playwright
- femme fatale
- woman in jeopardy
- love triangle
- murder plot
- recording
- new york city
- based on the novel of the same name
- deception
- newlywed
+38 more Show fewer
- train station
- actor
- nightmare
- car accident
- extramarital affair
- gold digger
- mistaken identity
- dictation machine
- wind up toy
- false love
- last will and testament
- ocean front house
- playing bridge
- observation car
- organ recital
- stray cat
- separate bedrooms
- reading aloud
- duplicating a key
- framed for murder
- wedding invitation
- forgery
- psychological thriller
- birthday
- staged accident
- faked injury
- title cowritten by female
- heiress
- stud poker
- revolver
- plan gone wrong
- cocktail party
- golden gate bridge
- law partner
- hiding in closet
- home intruder
- brother brother relationship
- suspense
Sudden Fear Cast & Characters
Jack Palance leads the cast as Lester Blaine, with Joan Crawford as Myra Hudson Blaine and Gloria Grahame as Irene Neves. Directed by David Miller; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director David Miller
-
Jack Palance as Lester Blaine -
Joan Crawford as Myra Hudson Blaine -
Gloria Grahame as Irene Neves - Bess Flowers as Party Guest (uncredited)
Also Starring in Sudden Fear
· 5 more- Harold Miller Reception Guest (uncredited)
- Bert Stevens Opera Patron (uncredited)
- Bruce Bennett Steve Kearney
- Virginia Huston Ann Taylor
- Mike Connors Junior Kearney
More from David Miller
More films directed by David Miller: Goldie and the Boxer, Bittersweet Love, Executive Action and Hail, Hero!.
Sudden Fear Plot Summary
What happens in Sudden Fear from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Myra Hudson, Joan Crawford, a successful Broadway playwright, rejects Lester Blaine as the lead in her latest work. Their first encounter is on a train bound for San Francisco, and what begins as a spark of romance quickly deepens into a whirlwind courtship that ends with a marriage. The newlyweds seem to be settling into a life of mutual charm and ambition, but the surface calm masks a fragile truth: Lester Blaine isn’t just drawn to Myra’s success—he’s drawn to her wealth.
Full summary
The whole story of Sudden Fear, scene by scene
Sudden Fear Box Office
Sudden Fear grossed $24,759 worldwide. $24,476 came from the US and Canada and $283 (1%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$24.8K
- US & Canada
- $24.5K
- International
- $283
How Well Do You Know Sudden Fear?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays Myra Hudson, the successful Broadway playwright?
Cars in Sudden Fear
9 cars on screen, including the 1952 Packard 250 and the 1952 Packard 400 Patrician.
-
1952 Packard 250 Important role -
1952 Packard 400 Patrician Important role -
1949 Dodge Wayfarer Minor role -
1949 Crosley Hotshot Background role
Sudden Fear Also Known As
13 alternative titles, including “Eiskalte Rache” and “Maskierte Herzen”.
- Also known as
-
- Eiskalte Rache
- Maskierte Herzen
- Le Masque arraché
- Miedo súbito
- So che mi ucciderai
- Precipícios d'Alma
- Hirtelen félelem
- 惊惧骤起
- Внезапен страх
- 서든 피어
- Внезапный страх
- Avslöjad
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- פחד פתאומי
Seen Sudden Fear?
Movies Like Sudden Fear
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Fear in the Night, Season of Fear and Season of Fear.
Sudden Fear FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Sudden Fear, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Sudden Fear?
Sudden Fear runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Sudden Fear released?
Sudden Fear was released on August 7, 1952.
Who directed Sudden Fear?
Sudden Fear was directed by David Miller.
More films by David Miller Who is in the cast of Sudden Fear?
Sudden Fear stars Jack Palance as Lester Blaine, Joan Crawford as Myra Hudson Blaine and Gloria Grahame as Irene Neves, among 9 credited actors.
How much did Sudden Fear make at the box office?
Sudden Fear grossed $24,759 worldwide ($24,476 domestic, $283 international).
Does Sudden Fear have a post-credit scene?
No. Sudden Fear has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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