Sudden

 

 (imdb)

SUDDEN FEAR-1952-Playwright Myra Hudson (Joan Crawford) doesn't think the lead actor in her new play, Lester Blaine (Jack Palance) is right for the role and has him fired. Later, they meet on a train. After dinner, dancing and smoking cigarettes they have a fling. He almost leaves her but she changes his mind and they get married. They seem happy until Irene (Gloria Grahame), a woman from Lester's past shows up. It soon becomes clear Lester wants more than love from Myra. Soon she finds evidence that Lester with the help of floozy Irene want to do away with her. When the evidence is accidentally destroyed, Myra comes up with an intricate plan to thwart the macabre duo. 

Suspense filled film noir directed by David Miller (LOVE HAPPY (1949)) with great performances all around. Crawford (also one of the exec-utive producers) was nominated for a best actress Academy Award (her last) and Palance got a best supporting nomination. Also with Bruce Bennett, Mike “Touch” Con-nors and in smaller roles Arthur Space, Bess Flowers and Selmer Jackson. It's based on a novel by Edna Sherry.

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The Double Life of Gene Barry

NAKED ALIBI-Universal Int.-(1954)-Gene Barry (a year after WAR OF THE WORLDS) is a psycho cop killer leading a double life. In California he's a baker. In Mexico he's a gangster. Sterling Hayden plays the disbarred cop out to nail him. Gloria Grahame (still riding the high time of her Oscar win 2 years before) is Barry's moll south of the border who gets to sing a song.


Director Jerry Hopper (who later became busy in TV) gives this improbable tale a stylish film noir feel. Also featuring little Billy Chapin (who was in TOBOR THE GREAT the same year) and future TV "Rifleman" star Chuck Connors. Hayden starred in JOHNNY GUITAR and SUDDENLY (with Frank Sinatra) the same year. Despite her Academy Award Grahame would fall on hard times and end her career in horror junk like BLOOD AND LACE and THE NESTING.

NAKED ALIBI is no classic but enjoyable anyway!

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