Fever in the Blood

Director: Vincent Sherman Vincent Sherman

Overview

In this routine political drama by Vincent Sherman, a murder trial is converted into one piece in the complex interaction between three candidates for governor. Judge Hoffman (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) is a solid, anchoring presence in his courtroom, qualities which should stand him in good stead when election day arrives. Senator Simon (Don Ameche) has all the scruples of a hungry ferret and tries to bribe the judge to take on a position in the federal judicial system in lieu of his candidacy. The District Attorney, Dan Callahan also has an ethics-free approach to politics and is not likely to change. Complicating matters is the fact that the Senator's wife Cathy (Angie Dickinson) was once in love with Judge Hoffman. By the time these protagonists get through dealing with the race for governor and each other's scruples -- or lack of them -- circumstances have drastically changed the picture.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/20/2014
UPC:	0888574038106
Original Release:	1961
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:57:00
Sales rank:	47,830

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	Actor
Angie Dickinson	Actor
Jack Kelly	Actor
Don Ameche	Actor
Ray Danton	Marker
Herbert Marshall	Governor Thornwall
Andra Martin	Laura Mayberry
Jesse White	Mickey Beers
Rhodes Reason	Walter Thornwall
Robert Colbert	Thomas Morely
Carroll O'Connor	Matt Keenan
Parley Baer	Bosworth
Saundra Edwards	Lucy Callahan
June Blair	Paula Thornwall

Technical Credits

Roy Huggins	Producer
Vincent Sherman	Director

Editorial Reviews

Moderately entertaining but nothing special, A Fever in the Blood could use a little more of real heat on the screen. Certainly, we're told that the main characters are hot to become the next governor and certainly they go through the motions of showing us just how determined they are; but it never feels real. That inner fire, that burning intensity to win this race at any cost doesn't ring true with any of the leads. It perhaps comes the closest with Efram Zimbalist, Jr.,, although that may be because his character is the one who keeps his desire more subsumed and less over than the others. By contrast, Jack Kelly and Don Ameche have ambition plastered across their foreheads, but all the blustering and activity still comes across forced. Still, even if it's not quite convincing, they do hit all the right marks and play all the right notes, so if that inner passion doesn't seem real, it still makes dramatic sense. Angie Dickinson is called upon to do little more than look luscious, which she does with ease. Vincent Sherman's direction is efficient and gets the job done, though with little in the way of invention or personal commitment.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler