Fourteen Hours (1951)

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

John Paxton (screenplay)
Joel Sayre (story)

Release Date:

April 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Film-Noir | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

A new element in screen suspense

Plot:

An unhappy man threatens suicide by standing on the ledge of a high-rise building for 14 hours.

Plot Keywords:

Ledge | Police | Rescue | Psychiatrist | Floodlight

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Paul Douglas	...	Police Ofcr. Charlie Dunnigan
Richard Basehart	...	Robert Cosick
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Virginia Foster
Debra Paget	...	Ruth
Agnes Moorehead	...	Christine Hill Cosick
Robert Keith	...	Paul E. Cosick
Howard Da Silva	...	Deputy Police Chief Moskar (as Howard da Silva)
Jeffrey Hunter	...	Danny Klempner
Martin Gabel	...	Dr. Strauss
Grace Kelly	...	Mrs. Louise Ann Fuller
Frank Faylen	...	Walter, room service waiter
Jeff Corey	...	Police Sgt. Farley
James Millican	...	Police Sgt. Boyle
Donald Randolph	...	Dr. Benson

Also Known As:

14 Hours (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (re-rated) | West Germany:16 (original rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #14687) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The film was shelved for six months because the daughter of Fox exec Spyros Skouras leaped to her death on the very day the film was previewed. By the time of its eventual release, some Spyros-mandated compromises were made to the film's storyline.

Goofs:

Continuity: The middle-aged priest climbs 15 flights of stairs, and is not the least bit out of breath.

Quotes:

Robert Cosick: You should have ten good reasons for anything. That's a rule!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'High Noon' (1992) (V)

A marvelous little unsung film.

I came across this film while changing channels. What stopped me was seeing such a young Richard Basehart. What kept me was the tense story. Most of it was confined to the building ledge and the room behind it. The background film was extraordinary. I think I've been able to pinpoint within 2 blocks where on Broadway this hotel was supposed to be. Another thing was the cast.

It seemed like they hadn't gone for "stars", just good actors. Ossie Davis, Jeffrey Hunter, Howard Da Silva (before the black- list), and Grace Kelly in her first film. I wish I could see it from the beginning.