Journey into Fear is a 1943 American spy film noir directed by Norman Foster, based on the 1940 novel by Eric Ambler .

[2] The RKO Pictures release stars Joseph Cotten, who also wrote the screenplay with Orson Welles.

It was the original European release print, lacking the narration and ending of the US version but including about six minutes of footage deleted by RKO Pictures.

In an opening scene before the credits, the assassin Banat is seen preparing a gun while a gramophone sticks as it plays.

Under the pretense of discussing business, he takes Graham to a nightclub to introduce him to the dancer Josette Maretl and her partner Gogo.

Graham's fellow passengers include Josette and Gogo; Kuvetli, an ingratiating Turkish tobacco salesman; Professor Haller, an apolitical German archeologist; and the henpecked Matthews and his French wife.

At an interim port call, Graham is made aware of the arrival of a new passenger by the annoying clamor of a gramophone.

At dinner, Graham recognizes Banat and tries to persuade the ship's captain and purser to put him ashore, but they believe that he is crazy.

Graham flees out of the room's window onto the cornice of the building in the torrential rain, pursued by Banat and Muller.

Back in the present, Haki tells Graham as he finishes the letter that Stephanie is waiting for him but wonders why the engineer took decisive action when he had been so indecisive earlier.

Several cast members were Mercury Productions staff, including Herb Drake (publicist), Shifra Haran (secretary), Eddie Howard (chauffeur), Robert Meltzer (writer), Bill Roberts (publicist),[3] and Jack Moss (business manager).

[5] Morgan's intended American debut Joan of Paris was postponed; Ben Hecht was signed to write the script, Robert Stevenson was to direct and David Hempstead to produce.

[13] Welles's involvement saw the addition to the cast of other people from his stock company, such as Ruth Warrick, Agnes Moorehead and Everett Sloane.

The cast and crew had all been working for 24 hours to complete Welles's scenes before he departed for Brazil, to film It's All True.

Welles's main contribution as producer was the opening sequence in which the assassin listens to an old gramophone record while loading his gun.

[16]: 377 [17]: 306 During the film's post-production, Welles was fired by RKO and his Mercury unit told to leave the studio.

Robson says he "was on very good terms with [Welles] and asked him if I could try to put Journey into Fear back into some continuity that would please him.