The Desperate Hours (1955)
The film noir, The Desperate Hours (1955), stars Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March and was both produced and directed by William Wyler. It is based on Joseph Hayes’ novel and play of the same name, released in 1954 and 1955 respectively. In the movie, Glenn Griffin leads a trio of escaped convicts who invade a suburban home in Indianapolis at random. They hold the Hilliard family, who reside in the house, hostage while waiting for a package from Griffin’s girlfriend with funds to aid their escape. As the police launch a statewide manhunt for the fugitives, they eventually discover the family’s distressing situation. Throughout the ordeal, Griffin terrorizes and torments the Hilliards, repeatedly threatening to kill them.
George Patterson, a garbage collector, stumbles upon the situation when he notices Griffin’s car in the garage. Unfortunately, this leads him to a tragic end at the hands of one of the three convicts, Sam Kobish, who forces him to drive into the country and kills him. Meanwhile, Hal, the younger brother of Glenn and also one of the convicts, becomes terrified by the police activity and decides to flee from his companions. However, his escape attempt is short-lived as he shoots a police officer while in a phone booth and is subsequently run over by a truck. As for Kobish, he meets his own fate when he is ambushed by police and FBI officers. In an attempt to protect his family, Daniel Hilliard, the family patriarch, convinces law enforcement not to storm their residence due to potential risks.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Humphrey BogartGlenn Griffin  Fredric MarchDan C. Hilliard  Arthur KennedyDeputy Sheriff Jesse Bard  Martha ScottEllie Hilliard  Dewey MartinHal Griffin  Gig YoungChuck Wright  Mary MurphyCindy Hilliard |
The film noir, The Desperate Hours (1955), stars Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March and was both produced and directed by William Wyler. It is based on Joseph Hayes’ novel and play of the same name, released in 1954 and 1955 respectively. In the movie, Glenn Griffin leads a trio of escaped convicts who invade a suburban home in Indianapolis at random. They hold the Hilliard family, who reside in the house, hostage while waiting for a package from Griffin’s girlfriend with funds to aid their escape. As the police launch a statewide manhunt for the fugitives, they eventually discover the family’s distressing situation. Throughout the ordeal, Griffin terrorizes and torments the Hilliards, repeatedly threatening to kill them.
George Patterson, a garbage collector, stumbles upon the situation when he notices Griffin’s car in the garage. Unfortunately, this leads him to a tragic end at the hands of one of the three convicts, Sam Kobish, who forces him to drive into the country and kills him. Meanwhile, Hal, the younger brother of Glenn and also one of the convicts, becomes terrified by the police activity and decides to flee from his companions. However, his escape attempt is short-lived as he shoots a police officer while in a phone booth and is subsequently run over by a truck. As for Kobish, he meets his own fate when he is ambushed by police and FBI officers. In an attempt to protect his family, Daniel Hilliard, the family patriarch, convinces law enforcement not to storm their residence due to potential risks.
