Cry Terror! (1958)

Duped by former army pal Paul Hoplin into building a time-bomb, New York shop owner Jim Molner and his family become hostages of Hoplin who uses bomb-threats to extort money from airlines.

Director:

Andrew L. Stone

Writer:

Andrew L. Stone

Stars:

James Mason, Rod Steiger, Inger Stevens

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Mason	...	Jim Molner
Inger Stevens	...	Mrs. Joan Molner
Rod Steiger	...	Paul Hoplin
Neville Brand	...	Steve
Angie Dickinson	...	Eileen Kelly
Kenneth Tobey	...	Agent Frank Cole
Jack Klugman	...	Vince, a thug
Jack Kruschen	...	F.B.I. Agent Charles Pope
Carleton Young	...	Roger Adams
Barney Phillips	...	Dan Pringle
Harlan Warde	...	Bert, Operative
Ed Hinton	...	Operative
Chet Huntley	...	Himself
Roy Neal	...	Himself
Jonathan Hole	...	Airline Executive

Storyline

Yesterday Jim Molner was an ordinary guy. Today he's a desperate man, frantically trying to save himself and his family, held hostage by a demented terrorist who's demanding $500,000 not to detonate a bomb he's planted on a domestic airliner.

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Plot Keywords:

child hostage | fbi | mad bomber | extortion | ransom | 

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Taglines:

TERRIFYING...as the time-triggered explosive of a mad bomber ticking-ticking-ticking!

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Third Rail

Filming Locations:

Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$482,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$340,000, 31 December 1958

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,020,000, 31 December 1958

Company Credits

Production Co:

Andrew L. Stone Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the movie is set in New York and uses some New York area locations, the entire sequence in which Joan Molner picks up the ransom money at a bank, works her way through the building across the street, and drives away in a car parked in the alley behind that building, is filmed in downtown Los Angeles, in and around the Farmers and Merchants Bank at 401 S. Main Street.

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Goofs

The Imperial driven by Paul Hoplin changes from an old-style two-headlight model to the newer four-headlight version. Early in the movie, when Hoplin is in the phone booth, you can see the two-headlight car in the background. Later, when he is driving Joan Molner to Vince's apartment, it is the newer style four-headlight model. In 1957 the four-headlight system was optional, because it was not yet legal in all states. It became standard with the 1958 models.

User Reviews

Gripping Terror

This is a really taught little thriller. I've heard it described as noir, but that isn't true. There is way too much daylight in this movie, but it doesn't in any way detract from the nail biting suspense. It's a somewhat convoluted plot about an evil psycho that lures an old army buddy into his plan to extort money from an airline by planting a bomb on one of their flights. I know that sounds like a tired plot, but this one has lots of twists. He gets the buddy to build the bomb by convincing him the Army is interested in it. He then kidnaps this guys family and forces the wife to pick up the ransom money! This is a fast paced movie and the tension just continues to build from beginning to end. There is also lots of stuff for the tech junkies.

The cast is also top notch. Rod Steiger plays the diabolical psycho, assisted by his evil henchmen played by Neville Brand (what a surprise), Jack Klugman (as a shlub), and a delicious Angie Dickenson in her most delicious prime. Inger Stevens plays the terrified wife who always seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but the big surprise is the buddy played by James Mason, of all people. Character development abounds as this story progresses. Jack Klugman begins to break down when he realizes they will have to kill the kid. Rod Steiger begins to lose his cool as the plan unravels. Neville Brand becomes crazier and more menacing by the minute. The family, on the other hand, gets stronger and more resourceful as time goes by. They seem to be able to draw on an inner strength none of them knew they had. The motive for this madness is perfectly logical. They were willing to blow up an airplane for half a million dollars. In light of 9/11 we can almost look back in nostalgia at a motive that rational.

1958 was a good year. This movie lets us look back on cars with tail fins, beer can openers, the West Side Highway, men who wore ties, and women who wore heels. It was also the tail end of an era where movies actually told a story - and this is a great one.