Movie Review: Nightmare (1956)
Synopsis: New Orleans musician Stan Grayson has a vivid dream about him struggling with and killing another man. When he wakes the next morning, he discovers an unknown key and torn off button, injuries on his neck and blood on his arm. Shaken by the experience, he goes to his brother-in-law, Rene, a police detective, for advice. Rene believes Stan is just having a nervous breakdown until they are driving home from a picnic and, needing shelter from a storm, Stan leads them the house where the murder occurred.
Who's in it? The movie stars Kevin McCarthy, Edward G. Robinson, Virginia Christine, Connie Russell and Rhys Williams.
Review: I came across Nightmare last night and, after semi-recently gaining an appreciation for Edward G. Robinson, decided to add it to my list and watch it this morning. It ended up being a good choice.
There were a couple things that really stood out for me regarding this movie with the main one being the mystery surrounding Stan's (McCarthy) dream and the murder that seemingly inspired it. While the evidence continually piled up, supporting Stan as the killer, the motive for the murder remained elusive. Even if he did kill the man in his dream, it wasn't a person he knew, and it took place in a house that he inexplicably was at. Plus, the fact he only remembered it in a dream suggested there was something else going on, including the possibility of a mental illness.
There were also a lot of questions about what would happen as the evidence piled up against him. For one, his brother-in-law, Rene (Robinson) seemed torn between doing his job and helping Stan and it was unclear which path he would end up taking. At the same time, Stan, clearly feeling the pressure from a crime he may or may not have knowingly committed, was unpredictable and suicidal. I didn't know if he would live to see his name cleared, if it was cleared at all, especially since he kept pushing people who would support him, including his girlfriend (Russell) away.
The film also has a nice twist that is carefully hidden until late in the film (though there are subtle clues pointing to it) and both offers a solution to the crime while not necessarily proving Stan's innocence. So, even though some parts of the movie and Stan's memories were explained, it didn't mean it wouldn't end with him in prison or worse, keeping me interested until the very end.
My only real complaint about the movie is Stan's inner monologue, which was constant and not very necessary. It's a movie, show it, not tell it.
Final Opinion: There's a bit too much narration from inside Stan's head, but the film is entertaining with a good mystery. I enjoyed watching it and would recommend it.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other movies from 1956:
Movie Review: Crime Against Joe (1956)
Movie Review: World Without End (1956)
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