Nightmare
Nightmare

Nightmare

1956Movie89 minEnglish

Clarinetist Stan has a nightmare about killing a man in a mirrored room. But when he wakes up and finds blood marks on himself and a key from the dream, he suspects that it may have truly happened.

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IMDb7.0/10
Director: Maxwell ShaneGenres: Crime, Film Noir, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A jazz musician suffering from amnesia is drawn into a murder investigation when he discovers incriminating evidence in his own apartment. As his memory slowly returns, he realizes he may be the killer he's hunting. He must piece together the fragmented events of the night of the murder to clear his name before the police, or someone more dangerous, finds him.

Critical Reception

Nightmare is a taut, suspenseful noir that effectively uses its amnesia premise to create genuine intrigue. While not as famous as some of its contemporaries, it's often praised for its clever plot twists and strong performances, particularly from Edward G. Robinson.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its effective suspense and noir atmosphere.
  • The amnesia plot device is used skillfully to generate mystery.
  • Edward G. Robinson delivers a solid, if somewhat familiar, performance.

Google audience: Audience reception data for this older film is not readily available on Google platforms.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in black and white, a common practice for film noir of the era, which enhances its shadowy and mysterious atmosphere.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

Stan Grayson is in a Jazz Funk. Maxwell Shane remakes his own 1947 film Fear in the Night but with a better known cast and more money. Adapted from Cornell Woolrich's novel, story has Stan Grayson (Kevin McCarthy) as a New Orleans clari...