Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
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)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Compulsion

  • 19591959
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman in Compulsion (1959)
Trailer for this film based on the best selling novel
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
60 Photos
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
Two wealthy law-school students go on trial for murder in this version of the Leopold-Loeb case.Two wealthy law-school students go on trial for murder in this version of the Leopold-Loeb case.Two wealthy law-school students go on trial for murder in this version of the Leopold-Loeb case.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Fleischer
  • Writers
    • Richard Murphy(screenplay)
    • Meyer Levin(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Orson Welles
    • Dean Stockwell
    • Diane Varsi
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Fleischer
  • Writers
    • Richard Murphy(screenplay)
    • Meyer Levin(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Orson Welles
    • Dean Stockwell
    • Diane Varsi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 90User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Compulsion (1959)
    Trailer 2:27
    Compulsion (1959)

    Photos60

    Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, and Diane Varsi in Compulsion (1959)
    Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, and Bradford Dillman in Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Edward Binns in Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)
    Compulsion (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Orson Welles
    Orson Welles
    • Jonathan Wilkas Jonathan Wilk
    Dean Stockwell
    Dean Stockwell
    • Judd Steineras Judd Steiner
    Diane Varsi
    Diane Varsi
    • Ruth Evansas Ruth Evans
    Bradford Dillman
    Bradford Dillman
    • Arthur A. Strausas Arthur A. Straus
    E.G. Marshall
    E.G. Marshall
    • District Attorney Harold Hornas District Attorney Harold Horn
    Martin Milner
    Martin Milner
    • Sid Brooksas Sid Brooks
    Richard Anderson
    Richard Anderson
    • Max Steineras Max Steiner
    Robert F. Simon
    Robert F. Simon
    • Police Lt. Johnsonas Police Lt. Johnson
    • (as Robert Simon)
    Edward Binns
    Edward Binns
    • Tom Dalyas Tom Daly
    Robert Burton
    Robert Burton
    • Charles Strausas Charles Straus
    Wilton Graff
    Wilton Graff
    • Mr. Steineras Mr. Steiner
    Louise Lorimer
    Louise Lorimer
    • Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy'as Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy'
    Gavin MacLeod
    Gavin MacLeod
    • Padua - Horn's Assistantas Padua - Horn's Assistant
    John Alban
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Don Anderson
    Don Anderson
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Brandon Beach
    • Courtroom Spectatoras Courtroom Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Terry Becker
    Terry Becker
    • Benson - The Angry Reporteras Benson - The Angry Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Russ Bender
    Russ Bender
    • Edgar Llewellyn - Attorneyas Edgar Llewellyn - Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Richard Fleischer
    • Writers
      • Richard Murphy(screenplay)
      • Meyer Levin(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Dead Ringer
    7.3
    Dead Ringer
    I'll Never Forget You
    7.0
    I'll Never Forget You
    Separate Tables
    7.4
    Separate Tables
    Brigham Young
    6.3
    Brigham Young
    The Vikings
    7.0
    The Vikings
    Swoon
    6.6
    Swoon
    Crack in the Mirror
    6.7
    Crack in the Mirror
    The Hard Man
    6.1
    The Hard Man
    Come Back, Little Sheba
    7.5
    Come Back, Little Sheba
    Call Northside 777
    7.4
    Call Northside 777
    The Working Man
    7.3
    The Working Man
    Odds Against Tomorrow
    7.4
    Odds Against Tomorrow

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the story was a thinly-disguised recreation of the Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb murder case, the legal department of 20th Century Fox was still concerned about a possible lawsuit from the still-living Leopold. A great effort was made not to mention Leopold or Loeb in the movie, press releases, and interviews. However, there was apparently poor communication with the advertising department, since when the movie came out, newspaper ads stated, "based on the famous Leopold and Loeb murder case." Leopold sued the filmmakers. He did not claim libel, slander, nor anything false nor defamatory about the film. Instead, he claimed an invasion of privacy. The court rejected his claim, in part, because Leopold had already published his own autobiography "Life Plus 99 Years," publicizing essentially the same facts.
    • Goofs
      When the murdered boy is in the morgue, his uncle recognizes him instantly, and the coroner doesn't mention to the young journalist (who found the glasses) that the kid had acid burned all over his face so he couldn't be identified. In the real life case, his face was burned and, most importantly, at the very end of the movie, Orson Welles as the defending attorney mentions that the murdered boy's face was burned with acid.
    • Quotes

      Jonathan Wilk: If there is any way of destroying hatred and all that goes with it, it's not through evil and hatred and cruelty, but through charity, love, understanding.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: CHICAGO, 1924
    • Connections
      Featured in The Paper Chase: Commitments (1983)

    User reviews90

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Mostly involving film with sensational performances by main characters and supporting cast
    The film deal with two young men (Bradford Dillman , Dean Stockwell) who murder a pal . They are law students and followers to Nietsche theories . They are investigated by an astute prosecutor (E.G.Marshall) . He's growing suspicion but there isn't one perfect crime . As the relentless justice to be executed and they go on trial for killing . A famous lawyer (Orson Welles) will defend them on the accusation of murderers and under death penalty . A young girl (Diane Varsi) will testify for them .

    This highly interesting film is inspired on real events about Nathan Leopold-Richard Lob killing case in Chicago of the 1920s . Although the story was obviously a thinly-disguised recreation of the known murder case , the legal department of 20th Century Fox was still concerned about a possible lawsuit from the still-living Leopold . In fact , a great effort was made not to mention Leopold or Loeb in the film , press releases , and interviews . The film contains suspense , drama , tension , illicit love with intertwining triangles , emotion , courtroom trial and complex intrigue maintained throughout . Besides , superb performances by main roles (Dillman , Stockell , Varsi, Welles) and supporting casting (Martin Milner , Robert F. Simon , Gavin McLeod , among others). Special mention for Orson Welles who displays a terrific acting and explaining a significant speech into criminal court . The movie is visually magnificent with an excellent black and white cinematography by William C. Mellor . Evocative and adjusted music by Lionel Newman . The motion picture was wonderfully directed by Richard Fleischer .

    This is the second of four film adaptations of the Leopold-Loeb murder case , other versions about same events are the famous ¨The rope¨ (1948) by Hithcock with John Dall (in the character of Bradford Dillman )and Farley Granger (in the role of Dean Stockwell), ¨Swoon¨ and recently ¨Murder by numbers¨ by Barbet Schroeder with Michael Pitt and Ryan Gosling . Indispensable and fundamental seeing for court genre enthusiasts and Orson Welles fans . It's one of Richard Fleisher's best. Rating : Above average .
    helpful•36
    9
    • ma-cortes
    • Jan 22, 2007

    FAQ7

    • Is 'Compulsion' based on a book?
    • How closely does this movie follow the real story about Leopold and Loeb?
    • Who represents Leopold and who represents Loeb in the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1959 (Romania)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Zwang zum Bösen
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles High School - 4650 W. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Darryl F. Zanuck Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman in Compulsion (1959)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Compulsion (1959) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.