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Crime of Passion

Crime of Passion

Drama · Crime · Thriller · 1956

Kathy leaves the newspaper business to marry homicide detective Bill, but is frustrated by his lack of ambition and the banality of life in the suburbs. Her drive to advance Bill's career soon takes her down a dangerous path.

Movie details

Crime of Passion

“Her husband was lying so close... the gun was even closer... now she was only one sin away from the Crime of Passion.”

1956 Drama · Crime · Thriller 1h 26m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.1 / 10

Community rating

Kathy leaves the newspaper business to marry homicide detective Bill, but is frustrated by his lack of ambition and the banality of life in the suburbs. Her drive to advance Bill's career soon takes her down a dangerous path.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Crime of Passion?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Gerd Oswald

Written by

Jo Eisinger

Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck

Kathy Ferguson

Sterling Hayden

Sterling Hayden

Lt. William Doyle

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr

Inspector Tony Pope

Fay Wray

Fay Wray

Alice Pope

Virginia Grey

Virginia Grey

Sara Alidas

Royal Dano

Royal Dano

Capt. Charlie Alidas

Robert Griffin

Robert Griffin

Police Sgt. James

Court is in session

Put Crime of Passion on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.