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

While filming a scene in a subway tunnel, Inger Stevens and Rod Steiger were nearly asphyxiated by carbon monoxide fumes. Steiger said years later that when they were being given oxygen, Stevens tried to refuse it. She said at the time she wanted to die; Steiger and the crew had to convince her otherwise. Years later on April 30, 1970, when Ms. Stevens was only 35 years old, she died of an overdose.

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Goofs

The Chrysler convertible has what look like California plates (MLK 050) when Joan Molner first drives the car, but as she is approaching her destination it has New York plates (7C 5976).

User Reviews

Will Keep You On the Edge of Your Seat!!

A genuine nail biter, from start to finish! This film is guaranteed to keep you in suspense from beginning to end! Led by Rod Steiger, who gives a riveting performance as the psycho-kidnapper, the rest of the cast performs most ably, lending considerable credulity to the storyline. Acting honors must go to the underrated Inger Stevens, whose career was tragically shortened by her untimely death. She lends just the right note of hysteria as the wife and mother whose family is being held, as she is made to follow the demands of the kidnap gang members in order to secure their safe release. The film also gives us some great shots of the NYC of the period, particularly the West Side Highway and other notable spots in the city.