''The Fearmakers'' is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by

Jacques Tourneur Jacques Tourneur (; November 12, 1904 – December 19, 1977) was a French film director known for the classic film noir ''Out of the Past'' and a series of low-budget horror films he made for RKO Studios, including ''Cat People (1942 film), Cat ...

and starring

Dana Andrews Carver Dana Andrews (January 1, 1909 – December 17, 1992) was an American film actor who became a major star in what is now known as film noir. A leading man during the 1940s, he continued acting in less prestigious roles and character parts ...

. The screenplay is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Darwin Teilhet. The film centers on seemingly nonpartisan political messages that are shaped by a public-relations firm secretly controlled by communists determined to undermine the American government.Hollywood's Cold War By Tony Shaw pg. 49-50

Plot

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

veteran Alan Eaton, who suffered through brainwashing as a

P.O.W. A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of w ...

, returns home and resumes his job at a public-relation and opinion-research firm in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

His partner has been killed mysteriously in an accident, and he discovers that his company has been taken over by communist infiltrators intent on fixing public opinion polls and promoting communist organizations. To stop them, Eaton cooperates with a Senate investigation.

Cast

as Alan Eaton *

Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jer ...

as Jim McGinnis * Marilee Earle as Lorraine Dennis *

Veda Ann Borg Veda Ann Borg (January 11, 1915 – August 16, 1973) was an American film and television actress. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Gottfried Borg, a Swedish immigrant, and Minna Noble, Borg became a model in 1936 before winni ...

as Vivian Loder *

Kelly Thordsen Kelly Thordsen, born Sherman Jess Thordsen (January 19, 1917 – January 23, 1978) was an American film and television actor. Life and career Thordsen was born in Deadwood, South Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II ...

as Harold 'Hal' Loder * Roy Gordon as Sen. Walder * Joel Marston as Rodney Hillyer * Dennis Moore as Army Doctor * Oliver Blake as Dr. Gregory Jessup * Janet Brandt as Walder's Secretary * Fran Andrade as TWA Stewardess * Mel Tormé as Barney Bond (as Mel Torme)

References

External links

* * * * 1958 films Film noir 1950s psychological thriller films 1950s English-language films American black-and-white films American political thriller films Films critical of communism American anti-communist propaganda films Cold War films Films directed by Jacques Tourneur United Artists films Fiction about mind control 1950s American films {{psychological-thriller-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links