The Price of Fear

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Matthew D A slick and simple film noir where we're aware of all the cards. Director Abner Biberman's film noir crime drama The Price of Fear (1956) is pretty neat. The narrator tells us everything and Biberman's direction shows us all the characters' actions in the opening. So The Price of Fear ends up watching as the heroes and villains lie and manipulate the situation until the conclusion. Writers Robert Tallman and Dick Irving Hyland weave a web of lies involving a hit and run, a false police report, a shotgun shooting, alibis, witness statements, and the mob buying out a dog racing racket. It's all about the ethics of lying and blackmail. Editor Ray Snyder cuts quickly and shows us faces of liars and truth tellers alike for a tight 79 minutes. Cinematographer Irving Glassberg has dark shadowy camera work with smooth camera panning shots. The bright lights highlight faces and show the blacker shadows. Art directors Robert Clatworthy and Alexander Golitzen lean into moody bars, dark restaurants, and fancy apartments. Set decorators Russell A. Gausman and Oliver Emert place tons of fancy props and furniture in Merle's home set to make her look rich. Merle Oberon is excellent as the constantly covering up businesswoman Jessica Warren. Merle makes for a fine femme fatale. She's doing everything to get out of a hit and run charge. Lex Barker is pretty gripping as the serious and smart accused man Dave Barrett. Charles Drake is great as the detective Pete Carroll. Gia Scala is sympathetic as the old man victim's grieving daughter Nina Ferranti. I like her sweater and Italian accent. Warren Stevens is awesome as the creepy and shrewd gangster Frankie Edare. Konstantin Shayne is fun as the near blind gun salesman Bolasny. Stafford Repp feels guilty about not coming forward with his testimony as cab driver Johnny McNab. Tim Sullivan is pathetic as the soon to be corpse sellout Lou Belden. Sound designers Leslie I. Carey and Robert Pritchard record clear voices and loud gunshots. Costume designer Jay A. Morley Jr. gives Merle lavish dresses and expensive business suits. All the guys get fitted suits. Bud Westmore's makeup is very gritty and natural for Merle and the rest of the ensemble. Joan St. Oegger gives Merle dark curly hair. Overall, The Price of Fear is neat and tidy with all the crimes and lies sorted out by the end. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Bland, boring, tepid, time-waster, etc, etc.....Blobbo need thesaurus. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review andy f This movie is actually from 1956. A fairly humdrum film noir which is a little predictable and quite unengaging. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Price of Fear

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