Product: Sudden Fear [VHS]
Rating: 4.0
Classic Crawford!
What a hoot of a film! It is a classic Joan Crawford "Queen Bee, poor me the victim" story. Crawford plays an ultra-wealthy San Franciscan socialite who writes incredably successful plays in New York City - non-stop! Plus she's just so nice and polite, that when she doesn't think the new leading man is sexy enough, she can't bear to fire him - so she gets someone else to. BIG mistake! Poor Joan 'falls in love' with conniving rejected actor. Actor then schemes with Gloria Grahame (of "Oklahoma's" girl who can't say "no" fame) to well...it doesn't matter. Joan's character is so annoying blind to the scheme that even when she has blatant evidence of the 'plot against her' she has this extended, drawn-out, wild-eyed scene of disbelief that is; well, hard to friggin' believe! What fantastic overacting! The ending is predictable and a little far fetched. Palance is great as the 'bad' actor and Grahame was so young, but so good! She deserved an Oscar for this performance. The last minute is surreal. Joan's character turns from deathly horrified to a smiling "life is going to be okay" facade in less than 60 seconds! Talk about wrapping up a film as quickly as possible!Trivia: Poor Joan was showing her age in this film (bad hair; grey showing) and it's tough to believe that Palance's character (hunky, hunky) would love her for more than money. Joan - always the victim!