A deranged man kidnaps the nubile daughter of a police captain.
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Title: A Cry in the Night (1956)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Edmond O'Brien | ... | Capt. Dan Taggart | |
| Brian Donlevy | ... | Capt. Ed Bates | |
| Natalie Wood | ... | Elizabeth | |
| Raymond Burr | ... | Harold Loftus | |
| Richard Anderson | ... | Owen Clark | |
| Irene Hervey | ... | Helen Taggart | |
| Carol Veazie | ... | Mrs. Mabel Loftus | |
| Mary Lawrence | ... | Madge Taggart | |
| Anthony Caruso | ... | Tony Chavez | |
| George J. Lewis | ... | George Gerrity | |
| Peter Hansen | ... | Dr. Frazee | |
| Tina Carver | ... | Mrs. Marie Holzapple | |
| Herb Vigran | ... | Jensen - Sergeant at Police Desk | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Owen Marks, parked at Lovers' Loop with girlfriend Liz Taggart, surprises a peeping Tom, who knocks him out and kidnaps Liz. The police leap into action when they learn the victim is a cop's daughter. Kidnapper Harold Loftus, the unhinged product of a smothering mother, makes ineffectual advances toward Liz, who staves him off as the police close in, hindered as much as helped by her overprotective father Capt. Dan Taggart. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Taglines:
Eighteen, nice girl, nice home - How did she fall this far?... See more »Parents Guide:
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Mary Lawrence, who was 38 at the time played Madge, Wood's supposed 27 year old sister. In fact, like Burr she was over 20 years older than Wood. Irene Hervey played the mother of both Wood and Lawrence. She was only 9 years older than Lawrence while O'Brien was only 3 years older than Lawrence. See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Ages: Natalie Wood plays an 18 year old. Wood was born in July 1938, so as of the film's release date of August 1956 she was 18 years and 1 month. Richard Anderson, who played her boyfriend, was 12 years older than Wood while Raymond Burr was 21 years older than her (his character was said to be 32), making him old enough to be her father. Burr was only 2 years younger than Edmond O'Brien who played Wood's father. Burr and a police officer refer to Anderson as "that boy" when in fact at the time Anderson had recently turned 30 years old.Mary Lawrence, who was 38 at the time played Madge, Wood's supposed 27 year old sister. In fact, like Burr she was over 20 years older than Wood. Irene Hervey played the mother of both Wood and Lawrence. She was only 9 years older than Lawrence while O'Brien was only 3 years older than Lawrence. See more »
Goofs
When Edmond O'Brien is getting ready to watch a movie on TV, he pours himself a glass of beer which is almost entirely foam. When he stands up to turn off the TV, the glass is suddenly full of beer. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
17 August 1956 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Cry in the Night See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
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Policeman (Edmond O'Brien) hunts down the hulking brute (Raymond Burr) who kidnapped his teenage daughter (Natalie Wood). Had potential to be a sleazy thriller but doesn't live up to it. As for the acting, the special of the day is ham. Raymond Burr channeling Lenny from "Of Mice and Men" will elicit laughter from most viewers. Carol Veazie as his trashy mom is fun to watch. Overweight Edmond O'Brien's turn as the hot-headed thuggish overprotective father is impossible to stop watching. Seems like every scene he has he's grabbing someone and yelling at them. It's not good acting but the movie is much more intriguing when he's on screen. Brian Donlevy spends most of the movie telling his pal O'Brien to go home. For her part, Natalie Wood is lovely to look at and handles herself fine in a weak role. Herb Vigran is good as the comic relief desk sergeant. Somewhat interesting for its glimpse at 1950s' attitudes towards sex, parenting, and mental illness. Ultimately can't be taken seriously enough to work as a thriller and it's not quite over-the-top enough to work as camp. Watchable but nothing special.