''Count the Hours!'' is a 1953

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

directed by

Don Siegel Donald Siegel ( ; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film director and producer. Siegel was described by ''The New York Times'' as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut plots centered o ...

, featuring

Macdonald Carey Edward Macdonald Carey (March 15, 1913 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, best known for his role as the patriarch Dr. Tom Horton on NBC's soap opera '' Days of Our Lives''. For almost three decades, he was the show's central cast membe ...

Teresa Wright Muriel Teresa Wright (October 27, 1918 – March 6, 2005) was an American actress. She won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Carol Beldon in ''Mrs. Miniver''. She was nominated for the same award in 1941 for her ...

John Craven John Raymond Craven (born 16 August 1940) is an English journalist and television presenter, best known for presenting the BBC programmes '' Newsround'', '' Countryfile'' and '' Beat the Brain''. Early life Craven was born in Leeds, West Rid ...

, and

Jack Elam William Scott "Jack" Elam (November 13, 1920 – October 20, 2003) was an American film and television actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies (sometimes spoofing his villaino ...

Plot

In the middle of the night, a mysterious stranger breaks in and steals from Fred Morgan, an elderly farmer. Fred and his housekeeper Sarah Watson are awakened by the intrusion and are shot dead. The next morning, Fred's nephew Alvin Taylor discovers the bodies and immediately alerts George Braden, Fred's farm assistant. District Attorney Jim Gillespie questions George, who lived nearby when the murder occurred. The police examines .32 caliber bullets were used, and George's pregnant wife Ellen disposes of their gun in a lake. A small box of .32 caliber bullets are found, and George and Ellen are taken in for questioning. At the jail house, George and Ellen are interrogated for sixteen hours but deny criminal involvement. George, wanting to spare his wife any more grief, confesses to the murders. Gillespie asks lawyer Doug Madison to take the case, though he initially declines as he doesn't believe in George's innocence. Meanwhile, Ellen attempts to retrieve the gun from the lake and is threatened by a handwritten letter to leave town or else. In his office, Doug's fiancée Paula suggests he drops the case as defending George would harm his political future. However, moved by Ellen's determination, Doug reverses his decision and hires a professional diver to locate the gun. After three weeks, Doug falls behind in paying the diver, and the diver attempts to rape Ellen. George's trial proceeds, but during the closing arguments, the trial is adjourned when his handgun is located. However, the ballistics report proves inconclusive and the jury finds George guilty of the murder. Doug, believing in his client's innocence, files to appeal the case. Later on, Alvin, who has inherited his uncle's farm, attempts to evict Ellen. Doug pleads to have Ellen stay, and learns in conversation that Max Verne, a farm hand who had worked for Fred Morgan, had threatened Morgan after he was fired. Doug drives to Verne's farm and meets his girlfriend Gracie Sager. Doug investigates Verne's criminal records and learns that he had served time for burglary. Later that night, Verne is arrested and confesses to the murder. During the re-trial, Gillespie summons Verne's doctor, who discredits the confession. With no further evidence to prove Verne's guilt, the case is dismissed and George's conviction is upheld. After the trial, Doug misses a dinner party with Paula as Ellen gives birth to a boy. Frustrated by Doug's inattention, Paula breaks her engagement with him. Doug makes one more desperate appeal, but the state governor upholds the conviction and George is sentenced to hang. At a local bar, Doug and Ellen learn from a bartender that Verne had known of the murders before the police did. Doug instructs the bartender to telephone the sheriff, but before he places the call, Verne arrives. The bartender alerts Verne that Doug will question Gracie. Verne leaves and the bartender contacts the sheriff. Doug arrives at Verne's farm and questions Gracie of his whereabouts while Verne arrives to kill Doug. Just as Verne is about to shoot, he is arrested and found in possession of Fred Morgan's wallet. George's execution is reprieved as Paula apologizes to Doug, and the two amend their relationship.

Cast

as Doug Madison *

as Ellen Braden *

as George Braden *

as Max Verne *

Edgar Barrier Edgar Barrier (March 4, 1907 – June 20, 1964) was an American actor who appeared on radio, stage, and screen. In the 1930s he was a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre and was one of several actors who played Simon Templar on ''The Saint (r ...

as D.A. Jim Gillespie *

Dolores Moran Dolores Jean Moran (January 27, 1926 – February 5, 1982) was an American film actress and model. Early years Moran was born named Jaqueline in Stockton, California, the daughter of James G. Moran and his wife, Esther Moran and attended ...

as Paula Mitchener * Adele Mara as Gracie Sager, Max Verne's girlfriend *

Ralph Sanford Ralph Dayton Sanford (May 21, 1899 – June 20, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films and in at least 200 episodes on television between 1930 and 1960, mostly bit parts or supporting roles. Sanford frequently ...

as Alvin Taylor * Dolores Fuller as Reporter (uncredited)

Reception

Howard Thompson of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' wrote: "Even with fairly thoughtful direction by Don Siegel, in addition to some nice raw photography throughout, this offering sacrifices substance of plain conviction for standardized suspense." However,

John Alton John Alton (October 5, 1901 – June 2, 1996), born Johann Jacob Altmann, in Sopron, Kingdom of Hungary, was an American cinematographer of Hungarian-German origin. Alton photographed some of the most famous films noir of the classic period and w ...

's cinematography was praised for showcasing "the solitariness of the figures against lake backgrounds, night skies, and highlighted interiors for dramatic effect."

Footnotes

Sources

External links