Richard Conte stars as Edward Hall, a terrified, purposely sleep-deprived headcase who, at an early age, enforced an imagination that overrided his ability to function day-to-day without fantasy (and his dreams) distorting reality. A car wreck could stem from Hall's imagination creating someone in the back seat or a carnival in his dreams could emerge with someone in them (as a psychiatrist's secretary) so real it urges him to contemplate suicide. John Larch is Dr. Elliot Rathmann, a psychiatrist willing to listen and try to encourage him to share what is so terrible Hall feels the need to stay away for days without sleeping just to avoid certain death (a heart condition affecting Hall could kill him at any time if the wrong shock were to startle him). "Perchance to Dream" will perhaps be best remembered for its evocation of Hall's dreamlike trip to a carnival, the barkers calling up him to visit their particular booths and rides, and a "cat dancer" (the sensual Suzanne Lloyd) attempting to seduce him. A roller coaster could be Hall's "final ride". Larch shows the aware concern for a potential client in dire need of advice regarding how to control the impulses that drive him to haggardly (his face wrought with exhaustion, a forehead sweaty, eyes distraught) fight against sleep and rest. Hall collapsing on the couch and a slight camera cue hints at the conclusion which involves a tragic recognition that "dying in your sleep" isn't always as peaceful as so believed. The dream within a dream plot device in horror/thriller anthologies, television, and film after this would feel a lot fresher if it wasn't so overused, but I think it works well enough just the same. Conte's torment is quite palpable. Lloyd is certainly effective in her part, particularly in her sequin dress and cat makeup within the dream.
Review of Perchance to Dream
