Ministry of Fear
Seen it?1944 | 86 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Three Days of the Condor or The Bourne Identity, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 26 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1944: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Stephen Neale is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either. On his way back to London to rejoin civilization, he stumbles across a murderous spy ring and doesn't quite know to whom to turn.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 20K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Fritz Lang
- Ray MillandStephen Neale
- Marjorie ReynoldsCarla Hilfe
- Carl EsmondWilli Hilfe
- Hillary BrookeMrs. Bellane #2
- Percy WaramInspector Prentice
- Dan DuryeaCost/Travers the Tailor
- Alan NapierDr. JM Forrester
- Erskine SanfordGeorge Rennit
- Harry AllenTailor's Delivery Man (uncredited)
- Frank BakerScotland Yard Man (uncredited)