Compulsion

Compulsion (1959)

7.1/10 148 votes 1h 43m HD

Overview

Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.

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Cast

Dean Stockwell

Dean Stockwell

Judd Steiner

Bradford Dillman

Bradford Dillman

Arthur A. Straus

Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Jonathan Wilk

E.G. Marshall

E.G. Marshall

District Attorney Harold Horn

Diane Varsi

Diane Varsi

Ruth Evans

Martin Milner

Martin Milner

Sid Brooks

Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson

Max Steiner

Robert F. Simon

Robert F. Simon

Police Lt. Johnson

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John Chard

John Chard

7/10

Lets go watch them slaughter the sheep!

Compulsion is directed by Richard Fleischer and adapted to screenplay by Richard Murphy from the novel written by Meyer Levin. It stars Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles and Diane Varsi. Music is by Lionel Newman and cinematography by William C. Mellor.

Based upon the real life Leopold and Loeb murder trial of the 1920s, Compulsion finds Artie Strauss (Dillman) and Judd Steiner (Stockwell) as two well to do young men attempting to commit the perfect crime - murder! But it wasn't so perfect after all and they soon find themselves on trial for their own lives. Enter famed attorney Jonathan Wilk (Welles), who fights to keep them from the death penalty.

Healthily rated in some quarters, it's a film that actually does divide opinions, which when all is considered is unsurprising given the capital punishment core of the story. The story builds superbly, brilliantly photographed and paced by cinematographer and director, and performed with imposing skills by Dillman and Stockwell. Then the crux of the film arrives in the form of Welles, who late in the play has the unenviable job of turning the piece into a soapbox anti capital punishment advertisement.

It's also a performance from Welles that has drawn major pros and cons in critical circles. Whatever your thoughts on capital punishment, Welles makes a telling acting mark. The sound mix could have been fine tuned, as Welles is prone to mumble during his speeches, but it remains gripping on court room drama terms, even if there's a little deflation - a feeling of anti-climax - after the build up had been so good. Not really capturing the notoriety of the real case, it's nonetheless a compelling piece and well worth seeking out. 7/10

August 10, 2015

Compulsion (Trailer)