Rating: NR
Genre:
Thriller
Release Date: 06/10/2003
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD1
Run Time: 112 Minutes
Flags: Questionable for Children
Distributor/Studio: Paramount
Based on the novel and play by
Joseph Hayes, which in turn was inspired by an actual event,
The Desperate Hours is the prototypical "family-trapped-by-criminals" drama. Escaped convicts
Humphrey Bogart,
Robert Middleton and
Dewey Martin, seeking an appropriate hideout until they can make contact with their money supply, deliberately choose the suburban home of
Fredric March and his family. The cold-blooded Bogart wants no trouble with the police, and he knows he can cower a family with children into cooperating with him. The convict orders March, his wife
Martha Scott, and their children
Richard Eyer and
Mary Murphy, to go about their normal activities so as not to arouse suspicion. Young Eyer, upset that March won't lift a hand against Bogart, assumes that his father is a coward. The authorities are alerted when March, at Bogart's behest, draws money for the convict's getaway from the bank. Pushed to the breaking point, March begins subtly turning the tables on the convicts. Bogart's character in
Desperate Hours was originally written for a much younger man, which explains why
Paul Newman was able to play the part in the original Broadway production. The film was slated to co-star Bogart with his old pal
Spencer Tracy, but this plan fell through when the two actors couldn't agree on who would get top billing.
Desperate Hours was remade in 1991 with
Mickey Rourke in the Bogart role.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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