It's hard to separate DeForest Kelley from his Star Trek persona as Dr. Leonard "Bones " McCoy, so it's always a blast to see him in a totally unrelated role. He guest starred in many T.V. Westerns of the 1950's and 60's, but to see him actually playing the lead in the 1947 noir film "Fear in the Night" was a veritable treat.
Kelley's character is Vince Grayson, a rather meek bank clerk who has a dream that he kills someone. As circumstances suggest that he actually might have done it, he confides in brother in law Cliff (Paul Kelly), a police detective who at first dismisses Grayson's ramblings, and then begins an investigation when a rain shortened day trip brings them to the scene of the crime. Major suspension of disbelief is required here, as Grayson locates the house where his dreams took place, and why one asks, would the day tripping foursome seek shelter in an unoccupied house just because of a little rain?
I got a kick out of a goofy conversation on an elevator when DeForest Kelley's character asks if it can go any faster; the operator's response - "I've got it wide open"!
Long story short - Vince Grayson DID kill someone, but he was hypnotized into doing so. If you just go with the flow, this is an entertaining and provocative mystery, but not to be taken too seriously. The print I viewed on DVD had some annoying cuts and jumps, though it didn't appear that the story was affected. The early narration by Kelley's character had a Peter Lorre quality to it that got my attention. View it for DeForest Kelley's performance, all the more memorable since it's also his very first credited movie role!
Kelley's character is Vince Grayson, a rather meek bank clerk who has a dream that he kills someone. As circumstances suggest that he actually might have done it, he confides in brother in law Cliff (Paul Kelly), a police detective who at first dismisses Grayson's ramblings, and then begins an investigation when a rain shortened day trip brings them to the scene of the crime. Major suspension of disbelief is required here, as Grayson locates the house where his dreams took place, and why one asks, would the day tripping foursome seek shelter in an unoccupied house just because of a little rain?
I got a kick out of a goofy conversation on an elevator when DeForest Kelley's character asks if it can go any faster; the operator's response - "I've got it wide open"!
Long story short - Vince Grayson DID kill someone, but he was hypnotized into doing so. If you just go with the flow, this is an entertaining and provocative mystery, but not to be taken too seriously. The print I viewed on DVD had some annoying cuts and jumps, though it didn't appear that the story was affected. The early narration by Kelley's character had a Peter Lorre quality to it that got my attention. View it for DeForest Kelley's performance, all the more memorable since it's also his very first credited movie role!