The Desperate Hours (1955 film)

The Desperate Hours
The Desperate Hours film poster
Directed by	William Wyler
Screenplay by	Joseph Hayes Jay Dratler
Based on	1954 novel The Desperate Hours 1955 play The Desperate Hours by Joseph Hayes
Produced by	William Wyler
Starring	Humphrey Bogart Fredric March
Cinematography	Lee Garmes
Edited by	Robert Swink
Music by	Gail Kubik Daniele Amfitheatrof (uncredited)
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	October 5, 1955 (1955-10-05)
Running time	113 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$2,388,000 (estimated)
Box office	$2.5 million (US)[1]

The Desperate Hours is a 1955 film noir starring Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. It was produced and directed by William Wyler and based on the 1954 novel and 1955 play of the same name, written by Joseph Hayes, which were loosely built on actual events. The film takes place on the Northside of Indianapolis and took great pains to be accurate as to street names and locations within the city and Indiana in general.

The original Broadway production had actor Paul Newman in the Bogart role but he was passed over for the movie because Bogart was a much bigger star. The character of Glenn Griffin was made older in the script so Bogart could play the part. Bogart said he viewed the story as "Duke Mantee grown up."^[a][b] Spencer Tracy was originally cast as Daniel Hilliard. Although he and Bogart were very good friends, both insisted on top billing, and Tracy eventually withdrew from the picture.^[c] Fredric March replaced Tracy.

The Desperate Hours was the first black-and-white film in VistaVision, Paramount's wide-screen process. The house used in the final seasons of the television series Leave It to Beaver was used for exterior shots of the Hilliards' home. In 1956, Joseph Hayes won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay.

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