Noirtini Hour

Film Noir Meet-Up: Sudden Fear (1952)

Let’s talk about movies! Join movie club member Jenna M. for Sudden Fear, starring Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, and Gloria Grahame, a tense film noir about a successful playwright who begins to suspect her new husband may be planning her murder.

Here’s how The Portland Movie Club meet-ups work:
Just like a book club, we watch the movie on our own time before we meet.
We'll meet at Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne at 4pm on the scheduled date.
We'll typically have a sign at our table(s) but at least we'll try to be obvious and identifiable.
Grab some food and drinks to support our generous hosts and spend some time socializing and discussing this movie with us.

A Few Notes about the film:
Sudden Fear was directed by David Miller and released in 1952. The screenplay by Lenore J. Coffee and Robert Smith was based upon the novel of the same name by Edna Sherry. Filmed in atmospheric black & white and making striking use of San Francisco locations, the movie builds tension through shadowy cinematography and escalating psychological paranoia. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations, including acting nominations for Joan Crawford and Jack Palance.

Viewing Options for the film:
For streaming, the film is available for free on Kanopy (MultCo. Library) and Fawesome, and available to rent through Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, and Fandango. There are also two copies available to rent from Movie Madness, and a few at the public library. If anyone knows of any other streaming/viewing options, please comment on the event.

About the Film Noir group:
This meetup explores classic and neo-noir films, focusing on shadowy visuals, morally gray characters, doomed romances, and crime stories where nobody’s hands are clean. We’ll watch a mix of essential noirs and modern films inspired by the genre, paying attention to themes like fate, corruption, obsession, and alienation. These films often deal with violence, crime, and heavy subject matter, so content can be intense at times; checking a site like www.doesthedogdie.com is encouraged if you prefer content warnings.

Tips:
Once again, we do not watch the movie at the meet-up. All members watch the movie on their own time before we meet to discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you do.
Some people like to take notes or find books and articles related to the film and its subject matter, feel free to bring those things along if there's something you'd like to share with the group.
At the end of the discussion we'll pass around a ballot where we can vote on a slate of options for the next discussion.

Films previously discussed in the Film Noir group:
Gun Crazy, Dial M for Murder.

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