Sudden Fear [VHS]

"Sudden Fear"(1952) has been one of the most requested films from fans of both film noir and Joan Crawford that they would most like to see on Blu-ray. Most of them(myself included) have been stuck with an inferior(and terrible) 1999 DVD from Kino that was not only hard to watch but an insult to all of those who were involved in the making of this now classic film. Cohen Film Collection(based in Columbus, Ohio) has finally brought "Sudden Fear" to Blu-ray for the first time this week and the results should more than please fans of the film. Restored in 2K with a maxed out bitrate(34.99), "Sudden Fear" has never looked better and is a vast improvement over the Kino DVD. That's not to say that it's prefect. There all still some grain-contrast issues(mainly in dream or nightmare optical scenes) but overall the video quality is very pleasing throughout. There are no vertical lines, dirt, torn frames, splices, etc. to be found. The B&W cinematography by Charles Lang(who received an Oscar nomination) is really highlighted now on Blu-ray. Nighttime scenes are very detailed with shadows and lighting being especially prominent. Lang's daylight exteriors of San Francisco are very impressive with the city's famous landmarks being easily identifiable(Coit Tower, Lombard Street, etc.) Crawford and Grahame's costumes are another delight and are even more impressive on Blu-ray. As far as the acting, this is Crawford's picture from start to finish. It is amazing to watch her go through a gamut of emotions from love, fear, hate and finally revenge. She richly deserved her third(and final) Oscar nomination for this film. She gets great support from Jack Palance(who matches her scene for scene) and Gloria Grahame as Palance's former flame. The cat and mouse between the three of them has lost none of it's impact even after 65 years. The tension and suspense in the last thirty minutes of the film will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the end. The Audio(English LPCM mono 2.0 and Dolby Digital 2.00 is crystal clear and free of any noise artifacts(hiss, pops. crackle, etc.) "Sudden Fear" is 110 minutes(Aspect ratio: 1.37:1) and only contains the following subtitle: English SDH. Special features include an audio commentary by Jeremy Arnold and the theatrical trailer. The Blu-ray disc itself is housed in a solid standard Blu-ray case(not an eco-cutout case) and comes with an enclosed booklet. Now that the wait is finally over, "Sudden Fear" should be a welcome addition to any home film library this Christmas.

I have never thought I would see the day when Sudden Fear (my second all time favorite Crawford film following Mildred Pierce! I bought the Kino DVD back in 99' and was astonished they released the DVD in such poor quality, very dark, blurred, caroming, sound issues the quality looked very much like a VHS played 5000 times and transferred to DVD but at the time it was the only print available. On a side note many years ago I saw this in the Village with some friends where in St Marks they played two Crawford films back to back - Sudden Fear and Harriet Craig. The print shown for Sudden Fear even in the theatre was similar to what Kino released. Jump forward 17 years where I saw the trailer for the new Cohen release 2k transfer. I went immediately to DVD Beaver who did a side by side comparison of the new blu Ray vs the prior DVD. I never thought this film would get a full overhaul so if you are a Joan Crawford fan, and her third Academy Award nomination I can not stress the need to upgrade. My copy arrived last night and was so so pleased by what I saw. Kudos to Cohen for saving the gem from obscurity. You couldn't even view on TV. Tonigh ironically (likely in support of the Blu Ray release is on now on TCM. I'm watching it now and it doesn't not seem as sharp as the bluray but not as bad as the kino copy. A must have for your film library or your Crawford collection. No special features other then commentary track and new updated trailer. Joan deserved all the praise in this cat and mouse thriller. Who will get to who first in the sinister plot the unravels in the film. Me personally, I am beyond happy as again I never thought I would see the day this film would be restored. Kudos to Cohen. They are also working on Bette Davis Another Mans Poison, no date set yet, but remastered as well. Highly recommended and worth the upgrade. The only thing I would have preferred if this offering offered the DVD restored copy as well. Enjoy this witty, gut wrenching, cat and mouse thriller and watch for that wind up toy dog that would give anyone a heart attck in Joan's current prediciment. Enjoy!!!!!!!!

The same great story and acting, but after suffering for over a decade with KINO's substandard print with grainy picture and lousy sound, Cohen has finally done justice to this film noir classic. It looks and sounds amazing.

This seems to be a little know film. It deserves to be much better known. Crawford and Palance got Acadamy Award nominations for this and there is no doubt in mind that the totally deserved them. Although the plots and characters are completely different, in terms of tension and menace the movie this most reminds me of us Night of the Hunter.

Purchased this without having seen the film and I was very happy with my decision. The film was excellent and probably the best performance I’ve seen of Joan Crawford’s. So impressed with the cinematography and the atmospheric mood of San Francisco in this flick. Totally recommended. This release was high quality and looked and sounded great!

Don't know how I ever missed this one; I've seen British films, old films & Crawford films and I think this one is now my favorite of hers. There are multiple moments of suspense and ways for plans to go wrong, but you won't figure it all out. The cinematics are impressive, the acting is good, the fashion and decor top notch, locations are great. Glad I stumbled across this in the Cohen collection.

David Miller did not have a great career as a director but he does some wonderful work in this film which features excellent performances by Joan Crawford, Jack Palance ( a very suave villain) and the always watchable Gloria Grahame. The last half hour is so carefully cut and edited, with every shot advancing the drama, that it actually does summon up thoughts of Hitchcock. The plot is all a bit of a stretch but the director and actors make it work. Very entertaining.

Cracking noirish melodrama with Crawford, as a wealthy heiress and successful Broadway playwright, makes the mistake of firing actor Palance from her latest production. He insinuates himself into her affections during a New York to San Francisco train journey and, once married, plans her demise with the aid of his girlfriend Gloria Grahame. Will they succeed and live happily ever after? Will they heck as like.Crawford, with her clown's make-up, chews the furniture, Palance prowls like a prizefighter waiting to pounce and Grahame slithers like a rattlesnake, ensuring that a great time is had by all.It has an absolutely superb and thrilling climax, filmed on San Francisco locations at night, that starts with a superimposed close-up of Crawford's eyes as she imagines her carefully laid plan taking place, followed by the actual events that inevitably don't go quite according to plan. Stripped of make-up and sweating with fear, Crawford bravely shows the ageing vulnerability and humanity hidden behind the mask.What started as romantic melodrama becomes quintessential and sublime noir, with cathartic rain water gushing down the kerb of dark mean streets.

This is Joan at her eye popping best - what that woman can do with her eyes and her lashes is amazing - as she discobers the man in her life is planning to kill her. Add Gloria Graham as the mistress and Jack Palance - who in their right mind would ever trust him - and the result if film noir heaven. And it all works out in the end right up to the very end.

Utterly entertaining noir timepiece. Black & white, of course. Atmospheric, of course. Gloria Grahame at her very best. Joan Crawford & Jack Palance both Oscar nominated -- deservedly. Taut, compelling, highly watchable.

I remembered this as one of my favourite Joan Crawford films. It's fantastic. The trouble is I didn't check for subtitles. It doesn't have any so can't watch it. So many excellent old films denied to the hard of hearing. This is 2015 for heaven's sake. The digital age.ALL DVDs should be subtitled.

This is one of Joan Crawford's greatest films. It's brilliantly acted and beautifully filmed. Sadly they don't make films like this anymore.