The Desperate Hours (1955)
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- Approved
- 1h 52min
- Crime, Drama
- 12 Oct 1955 (USA)
- Movie
Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Humphrey Bogart | ... |
Glenn Griffin
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| Fredric March | ... |
Daniel Hilliard
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| Arthur Kennedy | ... |
Deputy Sheriff Jesse Bard
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| Martha Scott | ... |
Ellie Hilliard
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| Dewey Martin | ... |
Hal Griffin
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| Gig Young | ... |
Chuck Wright
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| Mary Murphy | ... |
Cindy Hilliard
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| Richard Eyer | ... |
Ralphy Hilliard
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| Robert Middleton | ... |
Sam Kobish
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| Alan Reed | ... |
Detective
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| Bert Freed | ... |
Tom Winston
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| Ray Collins | ... |
Sheriff Masters
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| Whit Bissell | ... |
FBI Agent Carson
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| Ray Teal | ... |
State Police Lt. Fredericks
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Walter Baldwin | ... |
George Patterson (uncredited)
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| John Benson | ... |
Bellboy (uncredited)
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| Paul E. Burns | ... |
Chef at Al's Dining Room (uncredited)
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| Edmund Cobb | ... |
Mr. Walling (uncredited)
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| Ann Doran | ... |
Mrs. Walling (uncredited)
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| Ralph Dumke | ... |
Clint (uncredited)
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| Pat Flaherty | ... |
Dutch (uncredited)
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| Joe Flynn | ... |
Motorist Hijacked by Hal (uncredited)
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Fred S. Fosler | ... |
Sheriff (uncredited)
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| Beverly Garland | ... |
Miss Swift (uncredited)
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| Don Haggerty | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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| Bill Hickman | ... |
Sheriff (uncredited)
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Donald Kerr | ... |
Barkeeper (uncredited)
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| Helen Kleeb | ... |
Miss Wells (uncredited)
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| Louis Lettieri | ... |
Bucky Walling (uncredited)
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Mike Mahoney | ... |
State Trooper (uncredited)
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Michael Moore | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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| Burt Mustin | ... |
Carl (uncredited)
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| James O'Hara | ... |
Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
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| Simon Oakland | ... |
State Trooper (uncredited)
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| Ric Roman | ... |
Sal (uncredited)
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Paul Salata | ... |
Sheriff (uncredited)
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Joel D. Smith | ... |
State Trooper (uncredited)
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Directed by
| William Wyler | ||
Written by
| Joseph Hayes | ... | (screenplay) |
| Joseph Hayes | ... | (novel) |
| Joseph Hayes | ... | (play) |
| Jay Dratler | ... | (contributor to screenplay construction) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Robert Wyler | ... | associate producer |
| William Wyler | ... | producer |
Music by
| Gail Kubik | ||
| Daniele Amfitheatrof | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Lee Garmes | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert Swink | ||
Editorial Department
| Bill Wistrom | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| J. McMillan Johnson | ... | (as Joseph MacMillan Johnson) |
| Hal Pereira | ||
Set Decoration by
| Sam Comer | ||
| Grace Gregory | ||
Makeup Department
| Wally Westmore | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Karl Silvera | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles C. Coleman | ... | assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.) |
| John Waters | ... | second unit director |
| Hilton A. Green | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Hugo Grenzbach | ... | sound recordist |
| Winston H. Leverett | ... | sound recordist (as Winston Leverett) |
| Carl Mahakian | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Farciot Edouart | ... | process photography |
| John P. Fulton | ... | special photographic effects |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Edith Head | ... | costumer |
Music Department
| Laurindo Almeida | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Mahlon Clark | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Bert Gassman | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| James Getzoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Justin Gordon | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Nathan Kaproff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Lee Perrin | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Gale Robinson | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Toscha Seidel | ... | concertmaster (uncredited) |
| Sid Sharp | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Leo Shuken | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Harry Sukman | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Anton Torello | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Frankie Zinzer | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Fred S. Fosler | ... | technical advisor |
| Gianfranco Bellini | ... | italian voice dubbing: Dewey Martin (uncredited) |
| Claude Bertrand | ... | french voice dubbing: Bert Freed (uncredited) |
| Mario Besesti | ... | italian voice dubbing: Robert Middleton (uncredited) |
| Manlio Busoni | ... | italian voice dubbing: Ray Collins (uncredited) |
| Marc Cassot | ... | french voice dubbing: Arthur Kennedy (uncredited) |
| Andrée Champeaux | ... | french voice dubbing: Helen Kleeb (uncredited) |
| Emilio Cigoli | ... | italian voice dubbing: Humphrey Bogart (uncredited) |
| Dhia Cristiani | ... | italian voice dubbing: Martha Scott (uncredited) |
| Jean d'Yd | ... | french voice dubbing: Walter Baldwin (uncredited) |
| Gualtiero De Angelis | ... | italian voice dubbing: Arthur Kennedy (uncredited) |
| Maria Pia Di Meo | ... | italian voice dubbing: Mary Murphy (uncredited) |
| Paul Faivre | ... | french voice dubbing: Burt Mustin (uncredited) |
| Jacqueline Ferrière | ... | french voice dubbing: Beverly Garland (uncredited) |
| Richard Francoeur | ... | french voice dubbing: Fredric March (uncredited) |
| Michel François | ... | french voice dubbing: John Benson & James O'Hara (uncredited) |
| Sophie Leclair | ... | french voice dubbing: Mary Murphy (uncredited) |
| Augusto Marcacci | ... | italian voice dubbing: Whit Bissell (uncredited) |
| Pierre Morin | ... | french voice dubbing: Ray Teal (uncredited) |
| Yvon Morin | ... | french voice dubbing: Richard Eyer (uncredited) |
| Roland Ménard | ... | french voice dubbing: Dewey Martin (uncredited) |
| Luigi Pavese | ... | italian voice dubbing: Fredric March (uncredited) |
| Amilcare Pettinelli | ... | italian voice dubbing: Walter Baldwin (uncredited) |
| Claude Péran | ... | french voice dubbing: Humphrey Bogart (uncredited) |
| Marcel Raine | ... | french voice dubbing: Robert Middleton (uncredited) |
| Giuseppe Rinaldi | ... | italian voice dubbing: Gig Young (uncredited) |
| Raymond Rognoni | ... | french voice dubbing: Ray Collins (uncredited) |
| Roger Rudel | ... | french voice dubbing: Whit Bissell (uncredited) |
| Renée Simonot | ... | french voice dubbing: Martha Scott (uncredited) |
| Renato Turi | ... | italian voice dubbing (uncredited) |
| Henri Valbel | ... | french voice dubbing: Paul E. Burns (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (William Wyler's Production)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1955) (United States) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Picture)
- Paramount British Pictures (1956) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of Italy (1956) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1956) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Films (1956) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Paramount Television (2006) (United States) (tv) (original syndication release)
- Film AB Paramount (1956) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1956) (Norway) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1965) (United States) (tv)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1971) (Finland) (tv)
- CIC Video (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- TV3 (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Time-Life Video (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- Finnkino (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006) (United States) (tv)
- CBS Media Ventures (2007) (United States) (tv) (as CBS Television Distribution)
- Paramount Pictures Japan (1956) (Japan) (theatrical)
- NBC Universal Entertainment (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
- NHK Kyôiku (1984) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK Sôgô (1969) (Japan) (tv) (dubbed version)
- NHK-BS2 (2003) (Japan) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
After escaping from prison, Glenn Griffin, his brother Hal and a third inmate Sam Kobish randomly select a house in a well-to-do suburb of Indianapolis in which to hide out. The home belongs to the Hilliard family, Dan and Ellie who live there with their 19-year old daughter Cindy and their young son Ralph. They plan on staying only until midnight as Griffin is awaiting his girlfriend who will meet them with some money he had stashed away. When she doesn't arrive, their stay stretches out to several days. Dan Hilliard plays their game knowing that if he makes any attempt to contact the police, his family could be caught in the crossfire. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A reign of violence sweeps the screen See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,388,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The character of Glenn Griffin was made older so Humphrey Bogart could play the role. The stage version starred Karl Malden and a young Paul Newman in the Bogart role. See more » |
| Goofs | Before Glenn asks Eleanor if she could make a phone call without crying, he puts his left hand in his pocket. When she stands up and walks to the phone, he puts the same hand in the pocket again. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Episode #6.3 (1955). See more » |
| Quotes |
[first lines]
[the morning newspaper hits the front door] Ellie Hilliard: I'll get it, darling. Daniel Hilliard: [about the newspaper boy's routine of always hitting the front door with the newspaper] Some morning I'm gonna catch up with that kid. See more » |