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MONEY
Did you know
Shot for just $2.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Desperate Hours
"A reign of violence sweeps the screen."
1955 1h 52m EN
👍
7.0
SOLID
★7.0TMDB · 190
CrimeThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Escaped convicts terrorize a suburban family they're holding hostage.
“A reign of violence sweeps the screen.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Humphrey Bogart
Glenn Griffin
Fredric March
Daniel C. Hilliard
Arthur Kennedy
Deputy Sheriff Jesse Bard
Martha Scott
Eleanor 'Ellie' Hilliard
Dewey Martin
Hal Griffin
Gig Young
Chuck Wright
Mary Murphy
Cynthia 'Cindy' Hilliard
Richard Eyer
Ralph Hilliard
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- William Wyler
- Writers
- Joseph Hayes
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
71 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by William Wyler, shot by Lee Garmes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Daniele Amfitheatrof. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Robert Swink shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March and Arthur Kennedy carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "A reign of violence sweeps the screen.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0047985 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
William Wyler directs. Lee Garmes behind the camera. Daniele Amfitheatrof scores. Robert Swink cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Shot for just $2.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
- 271 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 3Directed by William Wyler, shot by Lee Garmes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Daniele Amfitheatrof. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Robert Swink shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March and Arthur Kennedy carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "A reign of violence sweeps the screen.".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0047985 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Lee Garmes
- Original score
- Daniele Amfitheatrof
- Editing
- Robert Swink
- Costume design
- Edith Head
- Makeup / hair
- Wally Westmore
- Runtime
- 112 min · 1h 52m
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $2,300,000
- Box office
- $2,500,000
- Return
- 109% of budget
- Original language
- EN
Also by
William Wyler
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Paramount Pictures
US
Key crew
- EditorRobert Swink
- ProducerWilliam Wyler
- Art DirectionJ. McMillan Johnson
- Theatre PlayJoseph Hayes
- Art DirectionHal Pereira
- Costume DesignEdith Head
- Set DecorationGrace Gregory
- NovelJoseph Hayes
- Associate ProducerRobert Wyler
- Assistant DirectorCharles C. Coleman
- Sound RecordistHugo Grenzbach
- Sound RecordistWinston H. Leverett
- Makeup SupervisorWally Westmore
- Set DecorationSam Comer
- Assistant EditorBill Wistrom
- Technical AdvisorFred S. Fosler
- Visual EffectsFarciot Edouart
- Makeup ArtistKarl Silvera
- Sound EditorCarl Mahakian
- OrchestratorLeo Shuken
- Second Unit DirectorJohn Waters
- Assistant DirectorHilton A. Green
- Visual EffectsJohn P. Fulton
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- hostage
- indianapolis
- suburbia
- escaped convict
- film noir
- home invasion
- family hostage
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1955-10-05
Also known as
International titles
- Horas desesperadasES
