The Desperate Hours

The Desperate Hours is a gripping thriller film released in 1955, directed by William Wyler and starring Fredric March, Arthur Kennedy, and Hugh O'Brien. The movie is an adaptation of the 1954 stage play of the same name by Joseph Hayes. The story centers around a suburban family, consisting of John McNeil (played by Arthur Kennedy) and his wife, Betty (played by Karen Sharpe). They live in a comfortable home in the suburbs with their teenage son, Mike (played by Fredric March). On a particularly fateful evening, Mike's college friends, Glenn Griffin (played by Harry Guardino) and Hal Garth (played by Richard Anderson), along with their fellow inmate, Ben (played by Arthur Kennedy's real-life friend and fellow actor, James Anderson, was initially signed but replaced), escape from the local penitentiary. The trio, seeking to lay low for a while, knocks on the McNeil's door, claiming they are stranded motorists in need of shelter due to a rainstorm. Initially, the family welcomes the trio, despite their rough appearance and suspicious stories. However, as the night wears on, their genuine intentions are revealed. The escaped convicts, Glenn and Ben, take John and Mike hostage, while also putting Betty and their home under siege. The duo plans to await the passage of time and hope their pursuers, the police, give up the chase, thus escaping the situation without consequences. As the McNeil family struggles to cope with the situation, John attempts to reason with the two intruders, while simultaneously trying to devise an escape plan for himself and his family. The situation becomes increasingly tense, with the intruders displaying their violent, sadistic tendencies, further testing the McNeils' resolve and their capacity to cope with the trauma. In the face of adversity, the family is divided as Mike is forced to confront the dark side of the escaped convicts' personalities. John's relationship with his son is explored as Mike is torn between his loyalty to his family and his growing fascination with the 'bad boy' lifestyle. Meanwhile, the police, under the leadership of the experienced and seasoned officer, Jim Henderson (played by Charles Bickford), are determined to recapture the escaped prisoners. As the standoff escalates, John, driven by desperation and the need to protect his family's lives, concocts a plan to deceive their captors and engineer their escape. The movie builds up to a heart-pounding climax where John McNeil must navigate a fine line between his desire for freedom and the inherent danger that comes with it. The Desperate Hours showcases a masterful display of direction from William Wyler, as the film's cinematography skillfully captures the tension and unease within the McNeil household. The movie received widespread critical acclaim for its gripping narrative, as well as the performances of its lead cast members. Fredric March's portrayal of the desperate father earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.