Compulsion
“Sometimes murder is just a way to pass the time.”
Synopsis
Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Compulsion
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-02-26
Top Cast
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Dean Stockwell
Judd Steiner
Bradford Dillman
Arthur A. Straus
Orson Welles
Jonathan Wilk
E.G. Marshall
District Attorney Harold Horn
Diane Varsi
Ruth Evans
Martin Milner
Sid Brooks
Richard Anderson
Max Steiner
Robert F. Simon
Police Lt. Johnson
Robert Burton
Charles Straus
Wilton Graff
Mr. Steiner
Louise Lorimer
Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy'
Gavin MacLeod
Padua - Horn's Assistant
Edward Binns
Tom Daly
Colin Kenny
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Raoul Freeman
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Herschel Graham
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 1, 1959
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.34x
+$455K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Fleischer
- Screenplay & Story
- Richard Murphy
- Original Score
- Lionel Newman
- Original Title
- Compulsion
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Production Budget
- $1.3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.8M
- Production Studios
- Darryl F. Zanuck Productions, 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Fleischer
Richard Murphy, Meyer Levin
Lionel Newman
William C. Mellor
William Reynolds
Richard D. Zanuck
Department Leadership Roster
Richard Fleischer
Director
Richard D. Zanuck
Producer
William C. Mellor
Director of Photography
William Reynolds
Editor
Richard Murphy
Screenplay
Lionel Newman
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Compulsion.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Compulsion
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Compulsion about?
Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.
Who directed Compulsion?
Compulsion was directed by Richard Fleischer.
Who stars in Compulsion?
The principal cast of Compulsion includes Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles, E.G. Marshall, Diane Varsi.
When was Compulsion released and how long is it?
Compulsion was released in 1959 with a total runtime of 1h 43m.
What was the box office and production budget of Compulsion?
Compulsion had a reported production budget of $1.3M and grossed $1.8M at the worldwide box office (1.34 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Compulsion?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Compulsion was composed by Lionel Newman.
Is Compulsion based on a book or true story?
Compulsion is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Meyer Levin".