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Fear in the Night (1947) -- A man dreams he committed murder, then begins to suspect it was real.

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   286 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 31% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Maxwell Shane
Writers:
Cornell Woolrich (story)
Maxwell Shane (written for the screen by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Fear in the Night on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 April 1947 (USA) more
Genre:
Film-Noir | Mystery more
Tagline:
Can a man commit MURDER in a dream?...Here is the spine-tingling, blood-freezing answer...different from any mystery you've ever seen!... more
Plot:
A man dreams he committed murder, then begins to suspect it was real. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Classic Noir, circa 1947 - Hypnotism sub genre more (15 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Paul Kelly ... Cliff Herlihy

DeForest Kelley ... Vince Grayson
Ann Doran ... Lil Herlihy
Kay Scott ... Betty Winters
Charles Victor ... Captain Warner
Robert Emmett Keane ... Lewis Belknap, aka Harry Byrd
Jeff York ... Deputy Torrence (as Jeff Yorke)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joey Ray ... Contractor (scenes deleted)
Loyette Thomson ... Waitress (scenes deleted)
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
72 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
UK:12 (DVD rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:(Banned) (1949) | USA:Approved (PCA #11856, General Audience) | Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Company:
Pine-Thomas Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Feature film debut of DeForest Kelley. more
Goofs:
Continuity: It is daytime when Vince Grayson (DeForrest Kelly) is about to jump out of his window. When his brother in law goes to save him-it is nighttime. When he is pulled back into the window-it is daytime again more
Quotes:
Vince Grayson: I've got an honest man's conscience... in a murderer's body. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Carolina (2003/I) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
15 out of 16 people found the following comment useful.
Classic Noir, circa 1947 - Hypnotism sub genre, 7 January 2003
8/10
Author: max von meyerling from New York

This is a classic noir from a classic year in the cycle. Max Shane was a Black Mask writer, the important pulp magazine precursor of the Noir genre. William Irish aka Cornell Woolrich was the master of the period. Cheepo producers Pine and Thomas, known as the Dollar Bills, later took the genre rightward making police the center of the action in the early 50's (HE WALKED BY NIGHT) and were later Ronald Reagan's producers. Shane later remade the same story as NIGHTMARE (1956) with Edward G. Robinson again for Pine/Thomas when working for them was a sign of having been absolved of anti-Americanism (which Robinson needed in 1956). However in 1947 FEAR IN THE NIGHT was one of the derivative low budget pictures which are best regarded because their humble manufacture prevented elaboration beyond the original stories. They are short, lean, punchy and to the point and no consideration has to be made in favor of any star's ego, directors pretensions or studio executives view of what constitutes a 'moral' story. The classic element here is that the protagonist IS guilty, though he is not responsible because he was hypnotised. So the classic neuroses of the 20th Century is again aired out. FEAR IN THE NIGHT is what it is, a classic situation expressing inner fear and guilt in the simplest and most direct way and all the better for that.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
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