THE PRICE OF FEAR
US, 1956, 80 minutes, Black-and-white.
Merle Oberon, Lex Barker, Charles Drake, Gia Scala, Warren Stevens, Philip Pine, Mary Field, Dan Riss.
Directed by Abner Bibberman.
The Price of Fear is from Universal Studios in the mid 1950s, a glossy black and white melodrama.
On the one hand, the focus is on Merle Oberon as a successful businesswoman, relishing her success but involved in a hit run accident and deciding that she would escape the scene. Eventually, her responsibility catches up with her.
On the other hand, there is a suave businessman involved in racing, Lex Barker, whose partner sells his share the business to a shady criminal which leads to his murder and the blame coming on Barker. To escape the gunmen, he has taken Merle Oberon’s car and so is blamed for the hit run.
There is the complexity of her falling in love with him, the relationship, his trying to establish his alibi with the taxi driver who drove him at the same time as the hit run. The taxi driver is also killed.
Charles Drake is the policeman, friend of Barker, investigating the case – the melodramatic ending, the woman wanting to go away with the businessman but ultimately confessing, throwing herself from the train, the consequences of the price of her fear.
1. A glossy melodrama? The indicating of gangster murders and a hit-run death?
2. The settings, society, business woman, offices, luxury home? The contrast with clubs, racing, gangsters? The musical score?
3. The title, Jessica Warren and her life, the accident, her decision and the consequences, her fear and the consequences?
4. The focus on Dave Barrett, Lex Barker and his style, the gambling, his partner, betraying him, the sellout, the confrontation with the gangsters, his assured style, the attempts on his life, his taking Jessica Warren’s car, the consequences?
5. The police, the investigations of the hit-run, the anguish of the daughter, the blaming of Dave Barrett, the court hearing, Jessica’s presence?
6. Peter Carroll, his work, friendship with Dave, the interrogation, his belief?
7. Jessica, the success of her business, the glamour of Merle Oberon, driving, carefree, the man on the road and his dog, hitting him, getting out of the car, nobody witnessing, getting in the car, her conscience, the decision to ring the police, the car being taken by Dave Barrett? Her keeping quiet, the hearing, Barrett being blamed? Her meeting him, the attraction, going out with him, in love? knowing the consequences?
8. The picture of the gangsters, the boss, the club, the henchmen, killings?
9. The taxi driver, his drinking, the possibility of his giving the businessman an alibi, Jessica visiting him and his wife, his being murdered, the wife and her trying to blackmail Jessica?
10. The police investigations, alibis, circumstantial evidence, Dave and the taking of Jessica’s car, the evidence of blood on the car?
11. Dave, Jessica wanting to go away with him, her decision to leave the country, on the train?
12. Peter, working in the night, driving to the station, on the train, the confrontation?
13. Jessica, her final confession, leaping from the train?
14. The complexity of the events, appearances, circumstances? the harsh reality of the hit run and the death? Not owning up to the truth, the consequences?
