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The Desperate Hours Details

1956 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 398 members

Director William Wyler's suspense classic marks the only time cinema giants Humphrey Bogart and Frederic March worked together. And the result is everything you'd expect: taut, terrifying and terrific. Bogart plays an escaped con who has nothing to lose. March is a suburban Everyman who has everything to lose - his family is .. Read more

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Martha Scott, Dewey Martin
Director William Wyler
Genres Drama

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The Desperate Hours cover art

The Desperate Hours

Director William Wyler's suspense classic marks the only time cinema giants Humphrey Bogart and Frederic March worked together. And the result is everything you'd expect: taut, terrifying and terrific. Bogart plays an escaped con who has nothing to lose. March is a suburban Everyman who has everything to lose - his family is held hostage by Bogart. As The Desperate Hours tick by, the two men square off in a battle of wills and cunning that tightens into an unforgettable fear-drenched finale.

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Martha Scott, Dewey Martin
Director William Wyler
Studio PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 48 mins
Certificate Certificate PG
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 06 Oct 2003
Production year: 1956
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews of The Desperate Hours

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    First it was Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. Then it was Anthony Hopkins and Mickey Rourke. But The Desperate Hours receives its most adventurous reworking yet in this tense TV movie, as Sharon Lawrence takes on the guise of the helpless hostage and black American actor Giancarlo Esposito assumes the role of the fugitive. Bearing in mind the sensibilities of US audiences, director Dan Lerner has to tread carefully in delineating the relationship between his two leads. He still manages to invest the action with a degree of social comment, as Lawrence's bourgeois guard drops sufficiently for her to sympathise with Esposito's plight.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Desperate Hours

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  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    tense drama

    bogie and two others are on the run and hold a family hostage in their own home.They are waiting for his girlfriend to bring money but there is a delay,things get tense and the family,particularly the father,start getting ugly.It all starts to fall apart for him as he tries to keep control and the cops are closing in.Not Bogart at his best but good enough for me.March is very good as the father who tries to protect his family from both the criminals and the heavy handed police.

      • john evans from cardiff,wales.
      • Posted 16 Jun 2004 22:47

  • Most recent members' review of The Desperate Hours

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    The Desparate Hours

    ok ... another Bogart classic.

    Whilstt still ok, and well worth a watch. It does not match up to other classics.

    In effect. A must see. And remembered?

    wulfie

      • A customer from Beverley
      • Posted 20 Dec 2008 17:22

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Rating breakdown

398 Member ratings
  • 100
27
  • 90
30
  • 80
90
  • 70
97
  • 60
73
  • 50
33
  • 40
17
  • 30
12
  • 20
12
  • 10
7

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    • The Desperate Hours

    • The Desperate Hours
      Director William Wyler's suspense classic marks the only time cinema giants Humphrey Bogart and Frederic March worked together. And the result is everything you'd expect: taut, terrifying and terrific. Bogart plays an escaped con who has nothing to lose. March is a suburban Everyman who has ...