

Compulsion
Sometimes murder is just a way to pass the time.
Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.
TMDB
7.1/10
175 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
View on IMDb
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $1.3M
- Box office
- $1.8M
- Language
- English
- death penalty
- based on novel or book
- police
- philosophy
- child murder
- based on true story
- lawyer
- courtroom
- glasses
- arrogance
- suspenseful
- superiority
Top billed cast














Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- Theatrical1 Apr 1959
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical16 Apr 1959
FranceFR
- Theatrical12 May 1959
Frequently asked questions
Compulsion was released on 1 April 1959.
Audience reviews
2- J7/10
John Chard
8/10/2015
Lets go watch them slaughter the sheep! Compulsion is directed by Richard Fleischer and adapted to screenplay by Richard Murphy from the novel written by Meyer Levin. It stars Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles and Diane Varsi. Music is by Lionel Newman and cinematography by William C. Mellor. Based upon the real life Leopold and Loeb murder trial of the 1920s, Compulsion finds Artie Strauss (Dillma…
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
9/15/2026
It's not quite clear whether "Artie" (Bradford Dillman) and "Judd" (Dean Stockwell) are actually friends or whether the latter is merely an acolyte for his colleague at a law school where accumulated wealth and privilege have left both with quite a superiority complex. "Artie" is bored and determined to make his presence felt by committing the ultimate crime, and so together with his obedient friend they set about co…
Member reviews
Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign inMember comments
0Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign in











