Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
Walter Baldwin
- George Patterson
- (uncredited)
John Benson
- Bellboy
- (uncredited)
Paul E. Burns
- Chef at Al's Dining Room
- (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb
- Mr. Walling
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- GoofsBefore 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.
- 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.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Colgate Comedy Hour: Episode #6.3 (1955)
Featured review
Tightly-wound thriller, based on true events
THE DESPERATE HOURS
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (VistaVision)
Sound format: Mono
(Black and white)
The patriarch of a middle-class suburban family (Fredric March) is forced to take action when they're held hostage in their own home by three escaped convicts, one of whom (Humphrey Bogart) is an experienced lifer with nothing to lose...
The first and only pairing of superstars Bogart and March is a tightly-wound thriller, written by Joseph Hayes (based on his novel and stageplay, inspired by actual events), and directed by Hollywood veteran William Wyler, distancing himself from the 'women's pictures' he had helped to popularize during the 1940's (THE LITTLE FOXES, MRS. MINIVER, THE HEIRESS etc.). Photographed in gleaming deep-focus VistaVision by Lee Garmes (SCARFACE, THE PARADINE CASE), the movie wrings incredible tension from the claustrophobic settings and frequent stand-offs between staunch family man March and embittered con Bogart. The movie's themes are fairly conservative and the outcome is never really in doubt, but this is a top-drawer thriller from Hollywood's 'golden age'. Also starring Arthur Kennedy, Martha Scott, Dewey Martin and Gig Young in crucial supporting roles. Unmissable.
NB. Though nowhere near as dreadful as most critics would have you believe, Michael Cimino's remake DESPERATE HOURS (1990) isn't a patch on the original.
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (VistaVision)
Sound format: Mono
(Black and white)
The patriarch of a middle-class suburban family (Fredric March) is forced to take action when they're held hostage in their own home by three escaped convicts, one of whom (Humphrey Bogart) is an experienced lifer with nothing to lose...
The first and only pairing of superstars Bogart and March is a tightly-wound thriller, written by Joseph Hayes (based on his novel and stageplay, inspired by actual events), and directed by Hollywood veteran William Wyler, distancing himself from the 'women's pictures' he had helped to popularize during the 1940's (THE LITTLE FOXES, MRS. MINIVER, THE HEIRESS etc.). Photographed in gleaming deep-focus VistaVision by Lee Garmes (SCARFACE, THE PARADINE CASE), the movie wrings incredible tension from the claustrophobic settings and frequent stand-offs between staunch family man March and embittered con Bogart. The movie's themes are fairly conservative and the outcome is never really in doubt, but this is a top-drawer thriller from Hollywood's 'golden age'. Also starring Arthur Kennedy, Martha Scott, Dewey Martin and Gig Young in crucial supporting roles. Unmissable.
NB. Though nowhere near as dreadful as most critics would have you believe, Michael Cimino's remake DESPERATE HOURS (1990) isn't a patch on the original.
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- Libretio
- Dec 20, 2004
- How long is The Desperate Hours?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Casovi ocaja
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,388,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1(original ratio)
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