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The Desperate Hours

  • 19551955
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
9.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Robert Middleton, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
51 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir
Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
9.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Joseph Hayes(screenplay)
    • Jay Dratler(contributor to screenplay construction)
  • Stars
    • Humphrey Bogart
    • Fredric March
    • Arthur Kennedy
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Joseph Hayes(screenplay)
    • Jay Dratler(contributor to screenplay construction)
  • Stars
    • Humphrey Bogart
    • Fredric March
    • Arthur Kennedy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 75User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Desperate Hours
    Trailer 2:25
    The Desperate Hours

    Photos51

    "The Desperate Hours" 1955 Paramount
    The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Richard Eyer, Fredric March, Dewey Martin, Robert Middleton, Mary Murphy, and Martha Scott in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Robert Middleton, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Richard Eyer, Fredric March, Dewey Martin, Robert Middleton, Mary Murphy, and Martha Scott in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Richard Eyer, Arthur Kennedy, Fredric March, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Dewey Martin, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)
    Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Robert Middleton, and Mary Murphy in The Desperate Hours (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Humphrey Bogart
    Humphrey Bogart
    • Glenn Griffinas Glenn Griffin
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Daniel Hilliardas Daniel Hilliard
    Arthur Kennedy
    Arthur Kennedy
    • Deputy Sheriff Jesse Bardas Deputy Sheriff Jesse Bard
    Martha Scott
    Martha Scott
    • Ellie Hilliardas Ellie Hilliard
    Dewey Martin
    Dewey Martin
    • Hal Griffinas Hal Griffin
    Gig Young
    Gig Young
    • Chuck Wrightas Chuck Wright
    Mary Murphy
    Mary Murphy
    • Cindy Hilliardas Cindy Hilliard
    Richard Eyer
    Richard Eyer
    • Ralphy Hilliardas Ralphy Hilliard
    Robert Middleton
    Robert Middleton
    • Sam Kobishas Sam Kobish
    Alan Reed
    Alan Reed
    • Detectiveas Detective
    Bert Freed
    Bert Freed
    • Tom Winstonas Tom Winston
    Ray Collins
    Ray Collins
    • Sheriff Mastersas Sheriff Masters
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • FBI Agent Carsonas FBI Agent Carson
    Ray Teal
    Ray Teal
    • State Police Lt. Fredericksas State Police Lt. Fredericks
    Walter Baldwin
    Walter Baldwin
    • George Pattersonas George Patterson
    • (uncredited)
    John Benson
    John Benson
    • Bellboyas Bellboy
    • (uncredited)
    Paul E. Burns
    Paul E. Burns
    • Chef at Al's Dining Roomas Chef at Al's Dining Room
    • (uncredited)
    Edmund Cobb
    Edmund Cobb
    • Mr. Wallingas Mr. Walling
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Joseph Hayes(screenplay) (novel) (play)
      • Jay Dratler(contributor to screenplay construction) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the movie previewed, Humphrey Bogart told director William Wyler, "I think I'm too old to play gangsters".
    • Goofs
      When Hilliard and Cindy are inside the car for the first time, the back projection image waves a little.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      [the morning newspaper hits the front door]

      Ellie Hilliard: I'll get it, darling.

      Daniel Hilliard: [about the newspaper boy's routine of always hitting the front door with the newspaper] Some morning I'm gonna catch up with that kid.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Colgate Comedy Hour: Episode #6.3 (1955)

    User reviews75

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Excellent film from William Wyler
    Frederic March, Martha Scott, Humphrey Bogart and Arthur Kennedy are just a few of the people who endure "The Desperate Hours," a 1955 film, based on the stage play and directed by William Wyler. On Broadway, the play was directed by Robert Montgomery and starred Karl Malden in the Bogart role and Paul Newman played his brother, here played by Dewey Martin. The film also stars Gig Young, Mary Murphy, Richard Eyer, and Robert Middleton.

    Having just seen Bogart in the 1936 "The Petrified Forest," it was interesting to see him still taking hostages 19 years later - and in fact, looking like he'd spent the last 19 years on the run from the law. He was clearly ill during the making of this film. Though Dewey Martin looked 30 years younger than Bogie, he was in fact only 20, making the fact that they were brothers a tiny bit more plausible.

    I also had recently seen "The Star Witness," a 1931 Warner Brothers film with a similar plot, which won an Oscar for best original screenplay. By 1955, it wasn't original any longer, but the execution of the story is compelling. Martha Scott is a housewife, Ellie Hilliard, alone in her suburban home when three escaped criminals (Bogart, Martin and Middleton) take over the place. Glenn Griffin (Bogart) wants to murder the Deputy Sheriff (Arthur Kennedy) who put him in prison, and he needs to wait for the delivery of some money to make good his escape. Dan Hilliard (March) and his daughter Cynthia (Murphy) walk into the situation, followed later by the Hilliard's little boy (Eyer). You'll be wondering why the son isn't knocked off - by his parents - given the trouble he causes.

    The money is delayed, and of course, the police have no idea where the gang is, as Griffin has put his car in the Hilliard garage. So the hours turn into overnight. Although March and Cynthia are allowed to leave the house for work, and Cynthia has to keep a date with her boyfriend (Young), they're too terrified to say anything for fear the mother and boy will be killed. Basically the gang as well and the family become prisoners as the hours drag on.

    Wyler gives us lots of frightening and suspenseful moments as the tension builds in the house, and he never lets the pace drag. Supposedly he made March and Scott do a goodbye scene for take after take because he thought March was "acting" and wanted to tire him out. An accomplished stage actor of the old school, March consistently had a great presence but didn't always emotionally connect with his characters - he does here. March and Bogart make powerful adversaries, March hitting just the right note as an angry father afraid for his family, but not afraid to talk back to Griffin. Bogart's Griffin is shrewd and admires brains and bravery in others; the family impresses him with their guts.

    Bogart is marvelous in the role - though tired out, his character is determined to keep the gang together and free; he's resentful of the middle classness of the family and how out of place he and his gang are in a nice home. Unlike his Duke Mantee in "The Petrified Forest", Bogart's Griffin doesn't seem to have a sense of the hopelessness of his situation until the very end; also unlike Duke Mantee, he has a vulnerability that he demonstrates at the end.

    Robert Middleton gives a scary performance as a witless member of the gang, and Martin, as Hal, displays Hal's disillusionment with the situation, his attraction to Cynthia, and the realization that he can never have someone like her if he continues down his brother's road. Gig Young is somewhat wasted as Cythia's boyfriend - it's unnecessary star casting. Martha Scott does a terrific job as the harried wife and mother. The wonderful Arthur Kennedy gives another good performance as the sheriff determined to catch Griffin.

    Highly recommended for its suspenseful story, fine direction, and top performances.
    helpful•11
    2
    • blanche-2
    • Apr 29, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Casovi ocaja
    • Filming locations
      • Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,388,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1(original ratio)

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