Wednesday, 5 December 2012

House trap


The Desperate Hours (1955)

Based on a novel and play of the same name which was inspired by real events this film from director William Wyler stars Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March and Arthur Kennedy. Escaped convicts hold a family hostage while the police race against time to find them.

Given that so much of this film takes place in one location it is pretty obvious that it was based on a play but enough other locations have been added to at least make it seem a little more “cinematic”. The plot manages to hold plenty of tension and handles the dilemma facing the family well. There are some good performances from the cast but I can not help but wish Paul Newman had been given the chance to reprise the role of the antagonist which he had in the original play.

4/5

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