| Jack Palance lights Joan Crawford’s hearth in 1952’s “lady in jeopardy” movie noir, “Sudden Concern.” |
I watched Sudden Concern
starring Joan Crawford for the primary time in years, with renewed curiosity. The
movie has grown in status in current a long time, what with a number of excessive profile
movie critics championing the movie noir flick as a basic.
Sudden Concern was the primary movie Crawford made as
an unbiased after leaving her second long run studio contract, this time with
Warner Brothers. Just like the post-MGM Mildred
Pierce, Sudden Concern gave Crawford’s profession a shot in
the arm. Concern was not in the identical league
as her greatest comeback with Mildred,
however was sufficient to maintain her profession moving into its 4th decade, particularly in Fifties
Hollywood, when the studio system was swiftly starting to wane.
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| Joan Crawford will get to be glam and critical within the 1952 suspense noir, “Sudden Concern.” |
What I remembered as a strong star automobile, is presently
known as considered one of Crawford’s best movies. Properly, I nonetheless suppose Sudden Concern is a strong star automobile, not a basic, but admirable
in its personal proper. The nifty noir is just not Mildred
Pierce, Humoresque, or Possessed by any means, however nearer to
Crawford’s slick star autos like Flamingo
Street and The Damned Do not Cry.
And Sudden Concern is actually extra
substantial than camp classics that adopted, akin to Queen Bee and Feminine on the
Seaside.
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| Although “Sudden Concern” was filmed on a average finances, these necessities had been offered for Miss Crawford’s rich character. |
An skilled assortment of artists had been rounded up for Sudden Concern, a “lady in jeopardy”
thriller: director David Miller, expert with star actors; screenwriter Lenore
Espresso, who had labored at Metro with Joan; Sheila O’Brien, Joan’s favored
designer, for the costumes; cinematographer Charles Lang; and composer Elmer
Bernstein for the ominous, booming rating. Newcomer Jack Palance was solid because the
youthful husband, and noir queen Gloria Grahame as the opposite lady. Bruce
Bennett, who had performed Mildred Pierce’s
first husband Bert, was a great luck allure, because the household lawyer, and Flamingo Street co-star Virginia Huston
performed Joan’s secretary.
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| Joan Crawford with Bruce Bennett, Virginia Huston, and Jack Palance in 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” Huston jogs my memory of Carole Lombard right here. |
Many veteran movie divas have completed a “lady in
jeopardy” film, so it is solely becoming that famous person Joan starred in
a number of of this style. All through her movie stardom, Crawford’s films typically
solid her as adversarial characters towards her main males, which intensified at
WB. And with Sudden Concern, the
adversarial grew to become antagonistic, with Joan typically combating for her movie life.
Whereas Joan typically performed working women and girls, which
performed off her well-known backstory, Crawford cherished to play “nice
girls” on-screen and labored to be considered one off-screen. As Myra
Hudson (no relation to Blanche or Jane!), she’s an heiress who has discovered
additional wealth and status as a playwright. The heiress/playwright is so
loaded that she plans on leaving her inherited wealth to charity.
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| Joan Crawford’s heiress/playwright revises her will in hubby’s favor, together with her recorder. And can quickly hear again a message from him! 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” |
Crawford is nice enjoyable to watch because the playwright
planning her life and dictating missives to her recorder in essentially the most dignified
of tones, as if she’s giving a sermon. But, there is a real heat to her
character because the lonely profession lady who lets love come later into her life.
Only a few years later, Joan herself would discover the identical, after being
single a decade, when she married Pepsi’s Alfred Steele.
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| Joan Crawford as Myra Hudson, heiress and playwright, in 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” |
When Crawford’s Myra has to let the main contender go
from her newest play, the actor leaves in an indignant huff. However a
“likelihood” assembly on a practice journey from NYC’s Broadway again to
California’s San Fran, they meet once more and fall in love. Myra is in seventh
heaven, however Jack Palance as Lester Blaine is steadily revealed to be the
schemer from hell.
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| Stranger on a practice, certainly! Jack Palance as Lester Blaine, in 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” |
Whereas Crawford will get to emote up a storm as Myra Hudson, David
Miller was an adept studio/star director. He lets Joan give a diva efficiency
with out going completely excessive on this taut thriller. Crawford’s expressions
of loneliness in addition to happiness because the betrayed bride are most plausible.
Joan’s solo scenes in Myra’s research and hiding out in Irene’s condo in climatic
scenes are performed massive, however to not the entire level of ridiculousness. Joan makes use of
all her gathered performing expertise and tips to place this character and story
throughout and acquired a well-deserved Oscar nomination. Just a few instances are
there camp moments: Myra’s imagining the alternative ways hubby Lester may kill
her whereas bug-eyed with worry or Joan hiding in terror at Irene’s earlier than the
finale, sweating like she’s in a sauna, as a substitute of closet.
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| Joan Crawford strikes considered one of her go-to film poses in 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” |
What I discovered fascinating is that Myra’s profession as a
playwright is a stellar success, however has no romantic life. She is nice at
creating characters, however not an ideal decide of character, and is fooled by this
actor—and a “allure boy,” at that! Additionally fascinating is that Lester
Blaine’s shady previous is just not spelled out. What actually did occur at that home on
Hearth Island, as an illustration? Lester is a scorching head, but amazingly retains
his cool as he jumps by way of hoops in Myra’s world.
As soon as the facade is dropped and Myra finds her life in
jeopardy, Sudden Concern goes into
overdrive because the newlyweds plot to kill one another. How fascinating that the
genteel playwright’s intestine response is to struggle again together with her personal plan of homicide.
Sure, she drops and shatters the recording of Lester’s murderous intentions.
However I suppose the authorities would simply imagine outdated cash Myra over no-name
actor Lester. Hey, movie noirs aren’t famend for his or her plausible plotting.
So, sport on!
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| Who’s zoomin’ who? Myra and Lester let the loss of life match start in “Sudden Concern.” |
I will not give away the limitless twists besides to say that
relating to the finale, Lester and Myra make such a racket of their loss of life
match that it is superb your entire neighborhood is not woke up by their Tom and Jerry-style chase!
How intriguing that a variety of the plot twists hinge on equipment
of the day that at the moment are a factor of the previous: monogrammed kerchiefs, stationary,
and head scarves. On this movie noir, everybody smokes like chimneys, have weapons
tucked of their furs and overcoats, and notes hidden in gloves!
There are additionally some nods to residing legend Crawford’s method of
life: her overly coordinated wardrobe, ankle strap footwear, and even an extraordinarily organized record of a revenge
timeline towards her hubby and his girlfriend.
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| Like Joan Crawford herself, Myra Hudson could be very organized, proper all the way down to her homicide timeline, in 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” |
Jack Palance acquired his massive break with Sudden Concern. As the start actor who turns into the husband to
older, rich playwright, Palance goes from charming suitor to doting husband
to brutish opportunist skillfully. Palance is intense, made much more so with
his extreme facial options. Jack acquired a Greatest Supporting Actor nomination, although
he was really the movie’s main man.
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| Jack Palance, together with his depth and extreme seems to be, was good because the villain husband, in 1952’s “Sudden Concern.” |
As with Myra, Lester Blaine has a dualistic persona. The
one he exhibits to Joan’s Myra is delicate and cultured because the struggling younger
actor. Quoting Shakespeare, studying to her, and solicitous to her wants,
plus letting her monogram every thing he owns! Then when scheming with
Gloria’s Irene, Lester’s animalistic, even when he’s exhibiting affection.
Irene Neves, Lester’s accomplice in crime, is performed by Gloria
Grahame. It simply occurs that Irene has additionally modified coasts, from New York Metropolis
to San Francisco. And with no seen technique of assist, Irene has began
courting a pal of Myra’s household, “Junior,” performed by a younger Mike
Connors, right here billed as “Contact.”
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| Gloria Grahame because the vixen of “Sudden Concern” has a number of the greatest traces! Right here she is with a really younger Mike Connors as her suitor. |
Gloria’s efficiency because the attractive, toxic little
Kewpie doll is scrumptious. Gloria’s a little bit of droll comedian aid from the
glowering depth of Crawford and Palance. Grahame gained a supporting Oscar
that yr, not for Sudden Concern, however
for The Unhealthy and the Lovely.
The ex-couple re-team for a extra drastic plan. Sadly,
considered one of their debriefings takes place in Myra’s research, which has a state of the
artwork recording system that was left on. The revelation in Myra’s library is
skillfully completed, as is the homicide because it’s alleged to occur, versus how
it actually goes down. It is all a bit far-fetched for my style, however continues to be
nice enjoyable to look at. The ultimate scene has Joan strolling off into the wee hours
alone, as was typically the case!
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| A placing second by Joan Crawford in 1952’s “Sudden Concern,” when Myra Hudson sees what she has grow to be. |
A have a look at Joan Crawford sparring with Jeff Chandler, Feminine on the Seaside:
https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2023/01/love-is-beach-for-lana-joan.html
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| One of many many absurdities of FX’s “Feud: Bette and Joan” was 70ish Jessica Lange recreating snippets of Crawford’s best hits. For “Sudden Concern,” Jessica seems to be extra like Kaitlyn Jenner than Joan! |
