Fear in the Night (1947)
“He dreamed he killed a man. Then it came true.”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
In his first leading role, DeForest Kelley plays Vince Grayson, who dreams in queasy detail of killing a man in a mirrored room — and wakes with marks on his throat and an odd key in his pocket. As waking life begins to confirm the nightmare, his detective brother-in-law (Paul Kelly) is drawn into untangling whether Vince is a murderer, a madman, or a victim. Adapted by director Maxwell Shane from Cornell Woolrich's story "Nightmare," the film turns hypnosis and dream-logic into mounting paranoid suspense on a shoestring budget.
Cast
About the Director
Maxwell Shane — Maxwell Shane wrote and directed this Pine-Thomas quickie, then remade it himself in 1956 as Nightmare with Edward G. Robinson. He squeezes genuine unease from limited means, leaning on dream imagery, voice-over, and the hypnosis conceit. It is a model of resourceful low-budget psychological noir.
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
Copyrighted in 1947 by Paramount Pictures (for the Pine-Thomas unit), the film fell into the public domain when the original copyright holder failed to renew the registration after the initial 28-year term. The non-renewal is documented in standard noir reference sources and the film has circulated freely for decades.
Behind the Scenes
Produced by the low-budget Pine-Thomas unit and released through Paramount, the film adapts Cornell Woolrich's much-filmed "Nightmare." It is best remembered today as DeForest Kelley's screen debut as a leading man, years before Star Trek. Director Maxwell Shane revisited the same source for his 1956 remake Nightmare with Edward G. Robinson. The film endures chiefly through public-domain prints of varying quality.
Did You Know?
- The film marks DeForest Kelley's first starring role, long before he became Dr. McCoy on Star Trek.
- It is based on Cornell Woolrich's story "Nightmare," written under his pseudonym William Irish.
- Writer-director Maxwell Shane remade his own film in 1956 as Nightmare, starring Edward G. Robinson.
- It was produced by the budget-minded Pine-Thomas unit, nicknamed the "Dollar Bills" for their thrifty Paramount programmers.
Reception & Legacy
Reviewers regard it as a clever, atmospheric low-budget thriller elevated by its dream-logic premise, while noting the threadbare production and uneven supporting performances. Kelley's debut draws particular interest from genre fans. It is considered a solid minor noir and a notable Woolrich adaptation.
The Hoodlum
Cause for Alarm!
Too Late for Tears
He Walked by Night