Compulsion_
"THEIRS WAS THE PERFECT CRIME they thought! They were too sure...too smart...too careful to leave a clue -- but they did! and it exploded -- The shocking story of two teenagers out for kicks...looking for thrills...and finding them!"
Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Compulsion earned $1.8M worldwide on a $1.3M budget — a 34% return on investment.
Richard Fleischer →
Year context
Compulsion was released 67 years ago in 1959.
CAST (16)
Dean Stockwell
Judd Steiner
Bradford Dillman
Arthur A. Straus
Orson Welles
Jonathan Wilk
E.G. Marshall
District Attorney Harold Horn
Diane Varsi
Ruth Evans
Martin Milner
Sid Brooks
Richard Anderson
Max Steiner
Robert F. Simon
Police Lt. Johnson
Robert Burton
Charles Straus
Wilton Graff
Mr. Steiner
Louise Lorimer
Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy'
Gavin MacLeod
Padua - Horn's Assistant
Edward Binns
Tom Daly
Colin Kenny
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
RF
Raoul Freeman
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
HG
Herschel Graham
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$1.3M
Budget
$1.8M
Revenue
+34%
ROI
BREAK EVEN
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
103 min (1h 43m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.1/10 (159 votes)
Popularity
4
Budget
$1,345,000
Box Office
$1,800,000
Profit
+$455,000
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Compulsion about?
Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.
How long is Compulsion?
Compulsion has a runtime of 103 minutes (1h 43m).
Who directed Compulsion?
Compulsion was directed by Richard Fleischer.
Who stars in Compulsion?
The cast of Compulsion includes Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles, E.G. Marshall, Diane Varsi.
How much did Compulsion make at the box office?
Compulsion earned $1,800,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $1,345,000.
What is the rating of Compulsion?
Compulsion has a rating of 7.1 out of 10 based on 159 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (4)
Crime
Drama
History
Thriller
KEYWORDS (14)
death penalty
based on novel or book
police
philosophy
child murder
based on true story
lawyer
courtroom
glasses
arrogance
suspenseful
superiority
gay subtext
gay interest