Line #3 Film/TheDesperateHours


1	[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_desperate_hours.jpg]]
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3	''The Desperate Hours'' is a 1955 FilmNoir starring Creator/HumphreyBogart and Creator/FredricMarch. The movie was produced and directed by Creator/WilliamWyler and [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on a novel and play]] of the same name written by Joseph Hayes (who also co-wrote the screenplay), which were VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory.
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5	Glenn Griffin (Bogart) leads a trio of escaped convicts who invade a family's suburban home in UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}} and hold its four members hostage. There they await the arrival of a package from Griffin's girlfriend, which contains funds to aid the fugitives in their escape, as Griffin menaces and torments the family and threatens to kill them. Finally the father, Daniel Hilliard (March), after convincing law enforcement personnel that their plan to storm the residence is too risky for his family, decides to play a trick on Griffin.
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7	The novel would be adapted again into a 1967 MadeForTVMovie, while the film was remade in 1990 as ''Desperate Hours'', directed by Creator/{{Michael Cimino\|Director}} and set in UsefulNotes/{{Utah}}. The film was also remade in UsefulNotes/{{India}} as the Hindi film ''36 Ghante'' in 1974.
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9	!!This film features examples of:
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11	* AgeGapRomance: 19-year-old Cindy is dating a character played by Creator/GigYoung, who was 41 at the time.
12	* AgeLift: Glenn Griffin was a much younger man in the play, in which he was played by a young Creator/PaulNewman. When Creator/HumphreyBogart (being a bigger star at the time) was cast in the movie, the character was aged to accommodate the middle-aged Bogart.
13	* CovertDistressCode: Ralph tries to sneak out a message to the visiting teacher via a notebook. Foiled by Griffin, who sees through the attempt.
14	* TheEnd: The movie closes on such a title card.
15	* GetOut: Said by Hilliard at the end while holding Griffin at gunpoint.
16	* InTheBack: The garbage man gets it in the back by Kobish.
17	* ItWorksBetterWithBullets: Hilliard tricks Griffin into using a gun with no bullets.
18	* ManBitesMan: Cindy bites the younger Griffin brother in his hand which results in him losing his gun to Hilliard Sr.
19	* TheMeddlingKidsAreUseless: The family has two or three perfect escapes foiled by the same kid. In one they get outside, find the kid missing and see he's still in the house at gunpoint. This kid also mouthed off to the bandits with something like "Oh, yeah? Well, when my father gets to his gun which is in the drawer right there ..."
20	* ProtectThisHouse: Daniel has to look after his family after Griffin and his gang invade his home.
21	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Against the word of the local politician, the FBI agent allows Hilliard back in his house.
22	* TapOnTheHead: Both Kobish and Hilliard Sr. go out after getting beaten in the neck by Griffin.
23	* TerribleTrio: Griffin's gang, a trio of escaped convicts that invade the Hilliard home.
24	* VillainousBreakdown: Griffin gets more unhinged after his brother leaves.

Context Film / TheDesperateHours