''Make Haste to Live'' is a 1954 American film noir

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by William A. Seiter and starring Dorothy McGuire, Stephen McNally and Mary Murphy. Seiter's last feature directorial effort, the film is an adaptation of the Gordons’ novel of the same name. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.

Plot

Crystal Benson is a single mother living in a small town in

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

. One afternoon, her teenage daughter, Randy, mentions running into a man who tells her she reminds him of someone he once knew. Crystal, already jumpy and unable to sleep, knows that this man is her mobster husband, Steve. She knows that he has recently been paroled from prison after serving 18 years. When she first met Steve, she had been captivated by him but, upon discovering his vicious behavior, including involvement in the murder of a police officer, she took their baby and fled. Expecting Steve to exact murderous revenge on her, Crystal prepares a tape recording explaining everything about her relationship with the man. She puts aside the recording, and money, for Randy to access after her mother's death. Steve insinuates himself into their lives; he makes it clear he wants to take Randy away and that he will fulfill his long-held plan to torment, and likely kill, Crystal. She tells everyone he is her brother, with whom she has had a difficult, often estranged history. Randy enjoys having her "uncle" in her life. Crystal organizes an escape for her daughter and herself; she is, however, seemingly transparent to Steve, and he is always, until the end, on her trail.

Cast

* Dorothy McGuire as Crystal Benson * Stephen McNally as Steve * Mary Murphy as Randy Benson * Edgar Buchanan as Sheriff *

John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...

as Josh * Ron Hagerthy as Hack * Pepe Hern as Rodolfo Gonzales * Eddy Waller as Spud Kelly *

Carolyn Jones Carolyn Sue Jones (April 28, 1930 – August 3, 1983) was an American actress of television and film. Jones began her film career in the early 1950s, and by the end of the decade had achieved recognition with a nomination for an Academy ...

as Mary Rose *

Rosa Turich Rosa Turich (born Rosa Sinohui, June 9, 1903 – November 20, 1998) was an American film and television actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional ...

as Juana *

Julian Rivero Julian Rivero (July 25, 1890 – February 24, 1976) was an American actor whose career spanned seven decades. He made his film debut in the 1923 silent melodrama, '' The Bright Shawl'', which starred Richard Barthelmess, Dorothy Gish, William Pow ...

as Carlos * Celia Lovsky as Mother * William Bailey as Ed Jenkins * Argentina Brunetti as Mrs. Gonzales * Bob Carney as Round-Faced Man * Joseph Vitale as Big Man *

Paul Lukather Paul Lukather (August 24, 1926 – October 9, 2014) was a veteran actor known for his vast array of work across stage, television and voice-over work. Lukather graduated from Drake University and Yale University. He won the Barter Award, which wa ...

as Deputy * Dickie Humphreys as Dancer * Norma La Roche as Señorita

Reception

Bosley Crowther of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' wrote, "Warren Duff's screen play is hackneyed and William A. Seiter's direction is dull. No one's performance is exciting. Only Edgar Buchanan as a sheriff seems slightly real."

References

External links

* * * {{William A. Seiter 1950s English-language films 1950s thriller drama films 1954 drama films 1954 films American black-and-white films American thriller drama films Film noir American films about revenge Films about stalking Films based on American novels Films based on thriller novels Films directed by William A. Seiter Films scored by Elmer Bernstein Films set in New Mexico Films shot in New Mexico Films with screenplays by the Gordons Republic Pictures films 1950s American films