The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961)

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

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

Release Date:

18 October 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

48 HOURS OF TERRIFIC SUSPENSE AS NATURE GOES ON A RELENTLESS RAMPAGE OF DESTRUCTION !

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Convict | Priest | Volcano | Evacuation

Awards:

1 win

Cast

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
Michele Montau	...	Margot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eugene Borden	...	Citizen (uncredited)
Earl D'Eon	...	Radio Operator (uncredited)
Jean Del Val	...	Louis (uncredited)
Max Dommar	...	Grellou (uncredited)
Janine Grandel	...	French Woman (uncredited)
Moki Hana	...	Sonia (uncredited)
Warren Hsieh	...	Napoleon (uncredited)
William Keaulani	...	Constable (uncredited)
Guy Lee	...	Tavi (uncredited)
Robert M. Luck	...	Captain Olsen (uncredited)
Ma Ma Loa	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Michael Mancuso	...	Hawaiian Boy (uncredited)
Tony Maxwell	...	Antoine (uncredited)
Pearl Rose	...	Hawaiian Girl (uncredited)
Robin Shimatsu	...	Marianne (uncredited)
Nanette Tanaka	...	Fleur (uncredited)
Norman Wright	...	Fouquette (uncredited)

Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy		(as Mervyn Le Roy)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Max Catto		novel
Liam O'Brien		screenplay

Produced by
Fred Kohlmar	....	producer
Mervyn LeRoy	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
George Duning

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc		(director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)

Film Editing by
Charles Nelson

Production Design by
John Beckman		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
John Beckman

Set Decoration by
Louis Diage

Makeup Department
Ben Lane	....	makeup supervisor
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carter De Haven Jr.	....	assistant director (as Carter DeHaven Jr.)
Floyd Joyer	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Charles J. Rice	....	sound supervisor
J.S. Westmoreland	....	sound (as Josh Westmoreland)

Special Effects by
Lawrence W. Butler	....	special effects (uncredited)
Willis Cook	....	special effects (uncredited)
Daniel Hays	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Val O'Malley	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Ralph James Hall	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Milton Feldman	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Pathé  Eastman color by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG | UK:PG | USA:Approved (Certificate #19964, original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (DVD) | Australia:G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Fallbrook, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

On the main American movie poster for this picture, an image of a volcano is formed out of the wording of the film's 'The Devil at 4 O'Clock' title.

Goofs:

Factual errors: 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.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Sopranos: Another Toothpick (#3.5)" (2001)

Affirmation of religion with a great script and photography

This film anticipates the "Dirty Dozen" film formula with a great story that affirms one's faith in God and the true missionary spirit of Catholic priests who went to various parts of the world to help the poor and the wretched of the earth at great personal sacrifice.

Yet the greatness of the film is not about the missionary zeal of Catholic priests but more about faith in God--the loss of faith and the process of regaining it. It is not an action film, it is a spiritual journey where convicts turn religious by observing selfless actions of others. It brings to mind Pearl S. Buck's "Satan never sleeps". The choice of the title "Devil at 4 O'clock" is unfortunate as the film is not about any devil--there is only a volcanic eruption at that time.

Even if you choose to discount the story, the film is admirable for its earthquake and volcano/lava flow sequences. I wonder how they were able to splice in realistic lava scenes as well as scenes of a small plane flying in close proximity to a volcano in full fury.

Along with "The Seventh Cross" and "Bad Day at Black Rock" this film ranks high as a Spencer Tracy film. He carries the film on his shoulders with good support from Frank Sinatra and Gregoire Aslan. Joseph Biroc's camerawork and Mervyl Leroy's decision to direct this film are commendable. If you have not seen the film see it, it will uplift your spirits and your faith in human values.