Poster for The Desperate Hours

The Desperate Hours

1955, Crime/Drama, 1h 52m

8 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

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The Desperate Hours Photos

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Movie Info

Three escaped felons (Humphrey Bogart, Dewey Martin, Robert Middleton) randomly target a suburban house to hide out in until midnight, when an accomplice plans to deliver them money. They take the entire family hostage -- but midnight comes and goes without a delivery. As their stay extends from hours into days, homeowner Dan Hilliard (Fredric March) complies with the felons' no-police demands to protect his wife and two children, while trying to plot an escape from the desperate situation.
  • Genre:
    Crime, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    William Wyler
  • Producer:
    William Wyler
  • Writer:
    Joseph Hayes
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:

Cast & Crew

Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Glenn Griffin
Fredric March
Fredric March
Dan C. Hilliard
Martha Scott
Martha Scott
Eleanor "Ellie" Hilliard
Arthur Kennedy
Arthur Kennedy
Deputy Sheriff Jesse Bard
Dewey Martin
Dewey Martin
Hal Griffin
Gig Young
Gig Young
Chuck Wright
Mary Murphy
Mary Murphy
Cindy Hilliard
Richard Eyer
Richard Eyer
Ralphie Hilliard
Robert Middleton
Robert Middleton
Sam Kobish
Alan Reed
Alan Reed
Detective
Bert Freed
Bert Freed
Tom Winston
Ray Collins
Ray Collins
Sheriff Masters
Whit Bissell
Whit Bissell
FBI Agent Carson
Ray Teal
Ray Teal
State Police Lt. Fredericks
Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Detective (uncredited)
Don Haggerty
Don Haggerty
Detective (uncredited)
Ric Roman
Ric Roman
Sal (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty
Pat Flaherty
Dutch (uncredited)
Beverly Garland
Beverly Garland
Miss Swift (uncredited)
Louis Lettieri
Louis Lettieri
Bucky Walling (uncredited)
William Wyler
William Wyler
Director
Joseph Hayes
Joseph Hayes
Screenwriter
William Wyler
William Wyler
Producer
Lee Garmes
Lee Garmes
Cinematographer
Robert Swink
Robert Swink
Film Editing
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Critic Reviews for The Desperate Hours

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (1)
Full Review… Brigid Murnaghan Village Voice Full Review… Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Full Review… Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Full Review… Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal
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Audience Reviews for The Desperate Hours

  • Dec 31, 2020
    I've enjoyed the three filmed interpretations of Joseph Hayes' book (one was a TV-movie). But, this is by far the best.
    Aldo G Super Reviewer
  • Apr 24, 2010
    Skip the remake & stick with the original
    Super Reviewer
  • Jun 23, 2009
    Classic...great movie even with Bogarts singular acting style....
    Super Reviewer
  • Nov 05, 2007
    A dense cat and mouse game featuring old Bogart, still pulling it off, maybe not as menacing as he could have, but it is his charcters rogue-like ambiguity that carries the movie. A hostage drama at its core, the movie features a many characters and depicts their conflicting interests. Of course, the increasing tension between the captors and the glooming disaster is what fires up the heat of suspense. Very good. HX
    Super Reviewer
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