The Desperate Hours (1955)
- Directed by
- William Wyler
- Genre
- drama film, action film, prison film, crime film
- Country
- United States
- Runtime
- 1h 48m
- Rated
- 14
- Rating
- 7.0 of 10 from 184 voters
- Elsewhere
- IMDb
The catalogue in 3D
The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.
How it feels
Three escaped convicts take a suburban family hostage in their own home. The father must find a way to protect his wife and children while staying calm under pressure.
tenseclaustrophobicbleakslow-burnsuspensefulgroundedsomber
What happens
The Desperate Hours is a 1955 film noir starring Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. It was produced and directed by William Wyler and based on the 1954 novel and 1955 play of the same name, written by Joseph Hayes, which were loosely built on actual events. The film takes place on the Northside of Indianapolis and took great pains to be accurate as to street names and locations within the city and Indiana in general. The original Broadway production had actor Paul Newman in the Bogart role but he was passed over for the movie because Bogart was a much bigger star. The character of Glenn Griffin was made older in the script so Bogart could play the part. Bogart said he viewed the story as "Duke Mantee grown up." Spencer Tracy was originally cast as Daniel Hilliard. Although he and Bogart were very good friends, both insisted on top billing, and Tracy eventually withdrew from the picture. Fredric March replaced Tracy. The Desperate Hours was the first black-and-white film in VistaVision, Paramount's wide-screen process. The house used in the final seasons of the television series Leave It to Beaver was used for exterior shots of the Hilliards' home. In 1956, Joseph Hayes won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)
More like this
Crashout (1955)
Big House (1955)
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
The Night Holds Terror (1955)
The Desperate Hours (1967)
Cell 2455, Death Row (1955)
Show Them No Mercy! (1935)- More like this film, on a shelf you can walk up to.It's the lit case on the top shelf.