Fear in the Night (1947)

A man dreams he committed murder, then begins to suspect it was real.

Director:

Maxwell Shane

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (story), Maxwell Shane (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Paul Kelly, DeForest Kelley, Ann Doran

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)

Storyline

Bank teller Vince Grayson wakes from a nightmare in which he and an unknown woman murdered a man in a strange, mirrored room. Only a dream...but Vince finds that he has physical objects and bruises from his "dream." His cop brother-in-law dismisses his story...until the family, on a picnic, takes shelter from a thunderstorm in a deserted mansion containing that mirrored room. Is doom closing in on Vince?

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Plot Keywords:

nightmare | mansion | thunderstorm | blowtorch | brother in law | 

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Taglines:

Can a man commit MURDER in a dream?...Here is the spine-tingling, blood-freezing answer...different from any mystery you've ever seen!...(original ad)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

And So Scared to Death

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pine-Thomas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Feature film debut of DeForest Kelley.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Vince Grayson: I've got an honest man's conscience... in a murderer's body.

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Connections

Featured in Carolina (2003)

User Reviews

great example of what can be done in cinema with just a bit of imagination and a decent story

Very decent noir thriller that is just that little bit different. Difficult to describe without giving everything away and I have to say that at a certain point about two thirds into the movie, I guessed what was going on. I doubt views in the 40s did though and this remains a most unusual movie with some very real scary moments. Not a lot or tearaway action but plenty of mind games and surreal goings on. The opening is spellbinding and an absolute thrill, the acting with DeForest Kelley and Paul Kelly is fine, even if the latter struggles now and again in what is a very difficult role. Clearly made for nothing, written and directed by Shane, this is a great example of what can be done in cinema with just a bit of imagination and a decent story.