Sudden Fear
“Every Suspenseful Moment... Every Embrace... Every Kiss... A Breathtaking Experience!”
Synopsis
Actor Lester Blaine has all but landed the lead in Myra Hudson's new play when Myra vetoes him because, to her, he doesn't look like a romantic leading man. On a train from New York to San Francisco, Blaine sets out to prove Myra wrong...by romancing her. Is he sincere, or does he have a dark ulterior motive?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ben Mankiewicz and Mario Cantone on Joan Crawford in Sudden Fear (Clip) | Creepy Cinema | TCMOfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-10-21
Top Cast
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Joan Crawford
Myra Hudson Blaine
Jack Palance
Lester Blaine
Gloria Grahame
Irene Neves
Bruce Bennett
Steve Kearney
Virginia Huston
Ann Taylor
Mike Connors
Junior Kearney
Bess Flowers
Party Guest (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Reception Guest (uncredited)
Bert Stevens
Opera Patron (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 7, 1952
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- David Miller
- Screenplay & Story
- Lenore J. Coffee, Robert Smith
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- Sudden Fear
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Studios
- Joseph Kaufman Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
David Miller
Lenore J. Coffee, Robert Smith, Edna Sherry
Elmer Bernstein
Charles Lang
Leon Barsha
Joe Kaufmann
Department Leadership Roster
Lenore J. Coffee
Screenplay
David Miller
Director
Robert Smith
Screenplay
Howard Greer
Costume Design
Sheila O'Brien
Costume Design
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Charles Lang
Director of Photography
Leon Barsha
Editor
Joe Kaufmann
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sudden Fear.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sudden Fear
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sudden Fear about?
Actor Lester Blaine has all but landed the lead in Myra Hudson's new play when Myra vetoes him because, to her, he doesn't look like a romantic leading man. On a train from New York to San Francisco, Blaine sets out to prove Myra wrong...by romancing her. Is he sincere, or does he have a dark ulterior motive?
Who directed Sudden Fear?
Sudden Fear was directed by David Miller.
Who stars in Sudden Fear?
The principal cast of Sudden Fear includes Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, Gloria Grahame, Bruce Bennett, Virginia Huston.
When was Sudden Fear released and how long is it?
Sudden Fear was released in 1952 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for Sudden Fear?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sudden Fear was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
Is Sudden Fear based on a book or true story?
Sudden Fear is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Edna Sherry".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sudden Fear?
Sudden Fear holds official age classifications: CA: 18A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).