The Desperate Hours (1955): cast, story & where to watch
1955 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1955, The Desperate Hours is an action, thriller, drama and crime film directed by William Wyler, running about 112 minutes. “A reign of violence sweeps the screen.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Escaped convicts terrorize a suburban family they're holding hostage.
Who’s in it. The Desperate Hours stars Humphrey Bogart as Glenn Griffin, Fredric March as Daniel C. Hilliard, Arthur Kennedy as Deputy Sheriff Jesse Bard and Martha Scott as Eleanor 'Ellie' Hilliard, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, The Desperate Hours has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $2.5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Desperate Hours page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Desperate Hours tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Desperate Hours (1955)?
- In US, The Desperate Hours is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Desperate Hours worth watching?
- The Desperate Hours holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Desperate Hours?
- The Desperate Hours stars Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Arthur Kennedy, Martha Scott and Dewey Martin.
- When was The Desperate Hours released?
- The Desperate Hours was released in 1955, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.