The Night Walker, Barbara Stanwyck- Dream Warrior

The sultry babe has something to say to you. You had it coming. Convinced your lovely wife is having an affair you demand to know who the other guy is. She cuts you to pieces by answering your question, "My lover is only a dream but he's still more of a lover than you!" Ouch! In 1964's "The Night Walker," Barbara Stanwyck's dream may indeed be more real than is good for her. Oh yes, this film was produced and directed by...William Castle!

He's old, grouchy and blind...hardly a good husband. Howard (Hayden Rorke) enjoys tormenting his wife, Irene (Stanwyck). He is convinced she has a lover as she talks in her sleep. In these dreams she is loving some handsome young guy...tall, handsome, and sensitive to her needs. Howard wants to know who it is. He suspects his lawyer, Barry (Robert Taylor). He's handsome and tall. He denies it. Then Boom! A very mysterious laboratory accident blows up Howard...or does it? The body is never found. Did Irene kill him? Barry thinks so. Does she have a lover (hence a motive)?

Irene's dreams continue...first nightmares of Howard returning. Then...her lover (Lloyd Bochner) returns in the dreams. At first he wines and dines her and she doesn't want to wake. Then the lover gets a bit menacing and the sweet dreams become nightmares.  Irene is convinced her dream lover is real and the places he took her to are also real. She asks Barry to help her find out the truth. What follows are ominous nightmares...murder...and maybe a grotesquely burnt Howard.

Is Irene an innocent victim of bad dreams or a conspiracy to drive her mad? Is Howard still alive? Is her dream lover a real person or some nocturnal threat bent on her destruction? This one will keep you guessing and a few more characters will be introduced to increase the mystery. As it becomes apparent that a murderer is involved, we really pull for Irene even though we are not sure of her virtue. For a fast paced mystery in which Barbara Stanwyck demonstrates some great screaming, enjoy "The Night Walker."