The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961)

A crusty, eccentric priest recruits three reluctant convicts to help him rescue a children's leper colony from a Pacific island menaced by a smoldering volcano.

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Max Catto (novel), Liam O'Brien (screenplay)

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Kerwin Mathews

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Spencer Tracy	...	Father Matthew Doonan
Frank Sinatra	...	Harry
Kerwin Mathews	...	Father Joseph Perreau
Jean-Pierre Aumont	...	Jacques (as Jean Pierre Aumont)
Grégoire Aslan	...	Marcel (as Gregoire Aslan)
Alexander Scourby	...	The Governor
BarBara Luna	...	Camille (as Barbara Luna)
Cathy Lewis	...	Matron
Bernie Hamilton	...	Charlie
Martin Brandt	...	Doctor Wexler
Louis Merrill	...	Aristide Giraud
Marcel Dalio	...	Gaston
Tom Middleton	...	Paul, Co-pilot
Ann Duggan	...	Clarisse
Louis Mercier	...	Corporal

Storyline

Three convicts enroute to Tahiti are put to work at a children's leper hospital when their plane makes an unexpected stop on another island. There, Father Perreau is to get off and replace Father Doonan, who's been relieved of his duties by the cardinal. Once on the island, things get out of control when the volcano decides to erupt, and the Governor orders an evacuation. The convicts, priests and leper children are all on top of the island and have no sure way to get down and off to safety. All must work together if any are to survive.

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Plot Keywords:

island | convict | priest | volcano | evacuation | 

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Taglines:

It was Father Perreau who arrived, Father Doonan who was to be replaced.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

18 October 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Teufel kommt um vier

Filming Locations:

Fallbrook, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Richard Widmark has said that Spencer Tracy told him that a broomstick was used as Frank Sinatra's stand-in during Sinatra's absences, marking his position in a scene, the brush end representing Sinatra's head. Tracy had to act opposite it whilst a script girl read Sinatra's lines.

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Goofs

A volcano eruption of this size (destroying an entire island) would create huge tidal waves that would swamp the boat, but it is shown sailing away in calm seas.

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Quotes

Father Joseph Perreau: God go with you.
Harry: God? Who is he?
Charlie: I've never heard of him.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Simpsons: Missionary: Impossible (2000)

User Reviews

Holds up well enough.

A star-packed disaster soap opera that's sort of a precursor to such 70s disaster films as "Earthquake". Fortunately, the characters are three-dimensional enough to hold our interest even in the non-action parts, while the big disaster scenes are technically good and hold up well. The film overdoes the religious and messianic angle a bit, but is certainly a pleasant time-filler. (**1/2)