Nightmare (1956) in Color — Starring Edward G. Robinson & Kevin McCarthy

Nightmare (1956) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Nightmare, the 1956 American film noir crime film directed by Maxwell Shane and starring Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, and Connie Russell, now available as a professionally colorized version. Based on a novel by William Irish (Cornell Woolrich), the film tells the story of a musician who experiences a terrifying nightmare that may have been real. New Orleans big-band clarinetist Stan Grayson experiences a nightmare in which he sees himself killing a man in a mirrored room, while in the background haunting dirge-like music plays. He awakens to find blood on himself, bruises on his neck and a key from the dream in his hand. Grayson tells his brother-in-law, police detective Rene Bressard, about the problem but is dismissed. Later, the two men take a picnic in the country with Grayson’s girlfriend and sister. Grayson leads them to the empty house from his dream, and it begins to rain. After they find a record player and begin dancing, Grayson’s girlfriend bumps into the phonograph, changing the speed. The slowed music becomes the song from Grayson’s nightmare. They then discover that the house contains a mirrored room as in Grayson’s dream. When he finds that a murder did indeed take place, Bressard suspects Grayson. Grayson, stressed and suicidal, protests his innocence, which makes Bressard dig deeper. They learn that a hypnotist living in Grayson’s building may have caused him to commit the murder. Bressard now must prove that although Grayson committed the murder, he was acting against his will. This film noir combines psychological suspense with criminal investigation as a man fights to prove he was an unwilling pawn in a murder. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

New Orleans big-band clarinetist Stan Grayson experiences a nightmare in which he sees himself killing a man in a mirrored room, while in the background haunting dirge-like music plays. He awakens to find blood on himself, bruises on his neck and a key from his dream in his hand. Grayson tells his brother-in-law, police detective Rene Bressard, about the problem but is dismissed. Later, the two men take a picnic in the country with Grayson’s girlfriend and sister. Grayson leads them to the empty house from his dream, and it begins to rain. After they find a record player and begin dancing, Grayson’s girlfriend bumps into the phonograph, changing the speed. The slowed music becomes the song from Grayson’s nightmare. They then discover that the house contains a mirrored room as in Grayson’s dream. When he finds that a murder did indeed take place, Bressard suspects Grayson. Grayson, stressed and suicidal, protests his innocence, which makes Bressard dig deeper. They learn that a hypnotist living in Grayson’s building may have caused him to commit the murder. Bressard now must prove that although Grayson committed the murder, he was acting against his will.

Stan Grayson, a talented clarinetist in New Orleans’ vibrant big-band scene, awakens from a terrifying nightmare convinced that he has committed murder. The physical evidence—blood on his body, bruises on his neck, and a mysterious key clutched in his hand—seems to confirm his worst fears. Desperate for help, he confides in his brother-in-law Rene Bressard, a police detective, but Bressard dismisses Stan’s story as nothing more than a bad dream induced by stress or alcohol.

The mystery deepens when Stan leads his family to an isolated country house that matches the setting of his nightmare with uncanny precision. The discovery of a record player and the revelation that changing its speed produces the haunting music from Stan’s dream suggests that something supernatural or psychological is at work. The mirrored room’s presence confirms that Stan’s nightmare was based on reality, and when they learn that a murder actually occurred in that house, Stan becomes the prime suspect.

As evidence mounts against him, Stan’s mental state deteriorates. Convinced of his own guilt despite having no memory of the crime, he becomes suicidal. Bressard, initially skeptical, begins to question his assumptions when he sees Stan’s genuine distress and unwavering protestations of innocence. The detective’s investigation leads him to a hypnotist living in Stan’s building, suggesting a more sinister explanation for Stan’s actions.

The film explores themes of memory, identity, and the power of suggestion. The possibility that Stan could have been hypnotized into committing murder raises profound questions about free will and responsibility. Bressard faces the challenge of proving that Stan was an unwilling pawn in someone else’s deadly game, requiring him to navigate the murky waters between criminal law and psychological manipulation. The film’s noir atmosphere—shadowy interiors, moral ambiguity, and the sense of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances—creates a tense psychological thriller that keeps viewers guessing until the final resolution.

Cast & Crew

Director: Maxwell Shane

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell, Virginia Christine, Rhys Williams

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Nightmare was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the shadowy, atmospheric world of film noir and the vibrant jazz scene of 1950s New Orleans. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the tense nightmare sequences to the mirrored room that becomes the centerpiece of the mystery. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the period-accurate 1950s New Orleans locations, big-band performance venues, and the eerie country house gain authenticity that transports viewers to the world of classic film noir. Edward G. Robinson’s legendary screen presence gains additional dimension in color, his portrayal of the determined detective Bressard conveying both professional skepticism and growing concern for his brother-in-law. Kevin McCarthy’s performance as the tormented Stan Grayson benefits from colorization that highlights the physical and emotional toll of his ordeal, from the blood on his clothes to the haunted expression in his eyes. The film’s musical elements, featuring Billy May and His Orchestra performing as themselves, come alive with new visual splendor in color as viewers can better appreciate the big-band era costumes and performance settings. Now also available in colour.

Buy Nightmare in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1956, Nightmare represents the film noir genre’s continued evolution in the 1950s, incorporating psychological themes and supernatural elements that reflected post-war anxieties about identity and control. The film was based on a novel by William Irish, the pseudonym of Cornell Woolrich, one of the most influential writers of crime and suspense fiction. Woolrich’s stories formed the basis of numerous classic films, including Rear Window (1954) and The Leopard Man (1943), and his exploration of psychological terror and the fragility of reality made his work particularly suited to the noir sensibility.

Director Maxwell Shane, who also wrote the screenplay, had previously adapted this same story in 1947 as Fear in the Night, originally titled Nightmare. This 1956 version represented Shane’s return to material he knew well, now with the benefit of a bigger budget and more established stars. The film was the first production of Pine-Thomas-Shane Productions, a new iteration of Pine-Thomas Productions that had been based at Paramount from 1940 to 1954. The company’s transition to United Artists and the inclusion of Shane’s name in the company title reflected the changing landscape of Hollywood production in the 1950s.

The casting of Edward G. Robinson, one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, brought star power to the production. Robinson, known for his roles in gangster films and noir classics like Double Indemnity (1944) and The Woman in the Window (1944), was ideally suited to play the detective attempting to unravel a complex mystery. Interestingly, promotional materials for the film misleadingly promoted Robinson as portraying the hypnotist, despite his actual role as the detective—a testament to the marketing practices of the era.

The film’s setting in New Orleans and its incorporation of big-band music and performance by Billy May and His Orchestra added cultural specificity and period authenticity. The theme song “Nightmare in New Orleans” and the musical sequences provided a counterpoint to the film’s darker themes, exemplifying the way 1950s films often balanced entertainment value with serious subject matter. The exploration of hypnosis and mind control reflected contemporary fascination with psychological manipulation, a theme that would become increasingly prominent in Cold War-era cinema. Through modern colorization, this noir classic reaches new audiences who can appreciate Edward G. Robinson’s performance, its psychological suspense, and its place in the history of American crime cinema. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in Nightmare?
A: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, and Connie Russell star, with supporting performances by Virginia Christine and Rhys Williams.

Q: Is Nightmare based on a book?
A: Yes, the film is based on a novel by William Irish (Cornell Woolrich), who also wrote the stories adapted for Rear Window and The Leopard Man.

Q: What is the plot of Nightmare?
A: A clarinetist who dreams of committing murder awakens to find physical evidence suggesting the dream was real, and must prove he was hypnotized into the crime.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

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