Journey Into Fear

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Journey Into Fear

1942

1h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

An American engineer in Istanbul, Howard Graham (Joseph Cotten), becomes the target of a Nazi assassination due to his involvement in improving the Turkish navy. With the help of police Colonel Haki (Orson Welles), Graham escapes from his hotel to board a ship to safety, leaving behind his wife (Ruth Warrick). On board, he encounters a number of passengers, including the dancer Josette Martel (Dolores del Río). However, the passenger Peter Banat (Jack Moss) is not who he appears to be.

Len G. Shaw

Detroit Free Press

The picture gets into its most exciting pace in the concluding moments.

Dec 31, 2020

Full Review

TIME Magazine

Welles shows himself a careful student of Alfred Hitchcock, but he falls far short of the Old Master.

Mar 12, 2013

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Unfortunately, RKO cut it almost as badly as The Magnificent Ambersons, which was in production at the same time, and what survives is basically a lot of claustrophobic atmosphere and some fair-to-middling suspense.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

As usual, the studio suits ultimately kept Welles at bay and cut the film themselves, but the result is still a robust watch.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 14, 2024

Full Review

Harry Mines

Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)

The atmosphere of shadowy violence and death around every comer overwhelms the picture. Such studied eeriness hasn't passed before the eyes of this reviewer in years and it soon becomes irritating.

Jun 10, 2021

Full Review

TV Guide

A visually arresting film with a nod to the quirky that just can't be beat in terms of the bizarre.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 29, 2006

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william d

A few suspenseful moments, but not many.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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william k

Entertaining spy drama with a suspenseful plot full of twists shows some of Orson Welles style, but is obviously not fully his intended product.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyable spy thriller. Good ending high above building ledge

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Confusing and hard to follow plot. Acting not particularly good. A longer running time might have helped to build the story and establish credibility of characters. Some nice ideas strung together rather than proceeding in a convincing manner.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

labored and formulaic

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

Just rewatched this gem over the Labor Day weekend. It is impossible to watch and not see Welles's photographic eye in so many shots, although he claimed he did not direct. Cotten, one of the most underrated leading men of all time, is great as the desk bound scientist forced into an action role. So many atmospheric notes (the rainy shootout, the skipping record) make this a true joy.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

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Norman Foster

Director

Joseph Cotten

Howard Graham

Orson Welles

Colonel Haki

Dolores del Río

Josette Martel

Ruth Warrick

Mrs. Stephanie Graham

Agnes Moorehead

Mrs. Mathews

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Synopsis

An American engineer in Istanbul, Howard Graham (Joseph Cotten), becomes the target of a Nazi assassination due to his involvement in improving the Turkish navy. With the help of police Colonel Haki (Orson Welles), Graham escapes from his hotel to board a ship to safety, leaving behind his wife (Ruth Warrick). On board, he encounters a number of passengers, including the dancer Josette Martel (Dolores del Río). However, the passenger Peter Banat (Jack Moss) is not who he appears to be.

Director: Norman Foster
Producer: Orson Welles
Screenwriter: Joseph Cotten
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc., Mercury Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2018
Runtime: 1h 11m