Led by cunning hood Glenn Griffin (Humphrey Bogart), three escaped cons take over the Hilliard household (headed by Fredric March and Martha Scott), holding them hostage while using their home as a hideout. The screws tighten as the time ticks by and March's upright suburbanite and Bogart's vengeful thug lock wits in a duel for survival. William Wyler (Ben-Hur) adroitly directs a tight script by Joseph Hayes, who adapted his own novel (which was previously staged as a play). Shot in black-and-white VistaVision (“motion picture high fidelity”), the sharp transfer on this extra-less DVD is near immaculate save for a hint of shimmer in the background of some scenes. Remade in 1990, this 1955 original is the better version. Recommended. (T. Rich)
The Desperate Hours
Paramount, 112 min., not rated, DVD: $19.99 Volume 18, Issue 5
The Desperate Hours
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