A Fever in the Blood

"Fever in the Blood," a 1961 film, was directed by Vincent Sherman and starred Jack Kelly, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Herbert Marshall, Jesse White, Angie Dickinson, Carol O'Connor, and Don Ameche. Kelly is a DA, Zimbalist a Judge, and Ameche the current state senator, and they all want to run for governor. A high-profile murder case might be just the ticket, and DA Callahan (Kelly) jumps at the opportunity, with Leland Hoffman (Zimbalist) the presiding judge.

You'd think an old pro like Vincent Sherman would have known better than to let these actors play to the top row of the balcony, but the acting for the most part was way over the top, with most actors speaking at the top of their lungs. The result gives the film a very old-fashioned feel.

This isn't an A cast, but it is a likable one. A little more subtlety in the direction would have made for a less bombastic presentation.