A vicious killer escapes from San Quentin with a canister of what he believes to be heroin but is actually a radioactive substance that threatens all Los Angeles.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Vince Edwards | ... |
Vince Ryker
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| Lyle Talbot | ... |
Chief Jensen
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| John Archer | ... |
Lt. Mark Richards
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Steven Ritch | ... |
Dr. John Wallace
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| Patricia Blair | ... |
June Marlowe
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| Kelly Thordsen | ... |
Detective Sgt. Hank Johnson
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| Joseph Mell | ... |
Eddie Crown
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| Sherwood Price | ... |
Pete Hallon
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| Kathie Browne | ... |
Jeanne
(as Cathy Browne)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Larry J. Blake | ... |
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
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Jean Harvey | ... |
Landlady (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Passerby (uncredited)
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Tony Lawrence | ... |
Sailor (uncredited)
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| Michael Mark | ... |
Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)
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| Vic Perrin | ... |
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Irving Lerner | ||
Written by
| Steven Ritch | ... | (original screenplay) and |
| Robert Dillon | ... | (original screenplay) |
Produced by
| Leon Chooluck | ... | producer |
Music by
| Jerry Goldsmith | ||
Cinematography by
| Lucien Ballard | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert Lawrence | ||
Art Direction by
| Jack Poplin | ||
Set Decoration by
| Lyle B. Reifsnider | ||
Costume Design by
| Norman Martien | ||
Makeup Department
| Ted Coodley | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Louis Brandt | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Charles Stokes | ... | property master (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jack Solomon | ... | sound |
Music Department
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | conductor |
| Morris Bercov | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Bob DiVall | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Frank Flynn | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Fred Fox | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Ossip Giskin | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Maurie Harris | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Robert Helfer | ... | orchestra manager (uncredited) |
| Milt Holland | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Carl Jeschke | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Sinclair Lott | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Edgar Lustgarten | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Lee Perrin | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| John Williams | ... | musician (uncredited) / musician: piano (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pat Miller | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Joe Steinberg | ... | dialogue coach |
| Jack Barton | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1959) (United States) (theatrical) (as Columbia Pictures Corporation)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1959) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1959) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Proprietary (1959) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films S. A. (1960) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1960) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (United States) (DVD) (Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Vicious drug dealer Vince Ryker escapes from San Quentin with another prisoner after stabbing a guard to death and stealing what he believes to be a cannister filled with experimental heroin from the prison hospital. In reality the container is filled with cobalt-60, a highly radioactive substance which threatens the entire city if it is somehow opened. The ruthless Ryker dumps his dying cellmate and murders a bypassing motorist, burning his body beyond recognition. Assuming a new identity, Ryker heads for Los Angeles to become reunited with his beautiful girlfriend and Crown, a corrupt businessman and front man for Ryker's drug business. Fully aware of the potential dangers of the situation, the authorities are engaged in race against time to recover the cannister and avoid citywide panic. Written by duke1029@aol.com |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A City in terror... Chills for millions... See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | In 2000 cobalt-60 was unwittingly exposed in a scrap metal dump in Thailand. Several of the workers became ill and subsequently died. This was the only recorded incident involving the radioactive substance. See more » |
| Goofs | Cobalt-60 is easily shielded and would not have the adverse effects it does if kept in a lead container. Actually, cobalt-60 emits both both gamma rays and beta particles. While the beta is easily shielded by the canister (which did not appear to be lead), the high-energy gamma rays would have a serious effect on a human who carried a canister of cobalt-60 for several days. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Little Nicky (2000). See more » |
| Quotes |
Eddie Crown:
[to Ryker]
Those clothes you're wearing look like they were made by a hopped-up tailor. They're even pulling cops out of retirement to look for you. See more » |