The Night Holds Terror

1955
Approved
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Film Noir True Crime Crime Drama Thriller

A group of convicted felons take over a suburban house to escape the ongoing police manhunt, turning the life of the family living there into a nightmare.A group of convicted felons take over a suburban house to escape the ongoing police manhunt, turning the life of the family living there into a nightmare.A group of convicted felons take over a suburban house to escape the ongoing police manhunt, turning the life of the family living there into a nightmare.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos22

+ 18

Top cast23

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Jack Kelly

Gene Courtier

Hildy Parks

Doris Courtier

Vince Edwards

Victor Gosset

John Cassavetes

Robert Batsford

David Cross

Luther Logan

Eddie Marr

Captain Cole
(as Edward Marr)

Jack Kruschen

Detective Pope

Joyce McCluskey

Phyllis Harrison

Jonathan Hale

Bob Henderson

Barney Phillips

Stranske

Roy Neal

TV News Broadcaster

Joel Marston

Reporter

Guy Kingsford

Police Technician

Stanley Andrews

Mr. Courtier
(uncredited)

Tom Coleman

Reporter
(uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Detective
(uncredited)

Roy Damron

Detective
(uncredited)

Charles Herbert

Steven Courtier
(uncredited)

Director
- Andrew L. Stone
Writer
- Andrew L. Stone
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Trivia
Based on a true story that happened in February 1953.

Goofs
In the extended scene where Robert Batsford is in a telephone booth inside the Thrifty Drug Store, a member of the camera crew's reflection can be seen on the glass side throughout.

Crazy credits
The five lead actors not only receive optical billing in the opening credits, but the narrator speaks both their actual names and their characters' names.

Connections
Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtracks
Every Now and Then
Written by Virginia L. Stone (as Virginia Stone)

User reviews32

Review

Featured review

6/10

Desperate Night

These types of films seemed to be quite common in the 1950s. Drivers making the foolish mistake of picking up the worst possible type of hitch-hiker--a criminal. One who might take him hostage or kill him at any moment. A very real fear of the possible.

This film feels like a mix of THE HITCH-HIKER and THE DESPERATE HOURS but isn't quite on par with either. Unlike those, this feels like a Made For TV film. The Narration is very much a negative and will probably make many laugh due to its dire seriousness.

But the characters in this film are well-played and certainly entertaining enough to make this film an enjoyable ride. Especially good are Hildy Parks as the terrorized wife who won't stand for it and Jack Kelly as her husband who is thinking only of his family's welfare. John Cassavetes is also good in his role as the mastermind criminal. There's some terrific cinematography in the film featuring scenes out in the desert and the climatic ending in the rain.