The Trap Snaps Shut At Midnight
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''The Trap Snaps Shut at Midnight'' () is a 1966 West German
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
Harald Philipp Harald Philipp (1921–1999) was a German film director, screenwriter and actor. Selected filmography * ''The Old Forester House'' (1956) * ' (1958) * ''The Csardas King'' (1958) * ''A Thousand Stars Aglitter'' (1959) * ' (1960) * ''Brandenburg ...
and starring
George Nader George Garfield Nader, Jr. (October 19, 1921 – February 4, 2002) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 to 1974, mainly action and adventure film roles. He won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the ...
, Horst Frank and
Heinz Weiss Heinz Weiss (12 June 192120 November 2010) was a German film actor. Weiss is best known for playing the role of Phil Decker in the Jerry Cotton series of films and the role of Captain Heinz Hansen in ''Das Traumschiff''. He also played the char ...
. It is the fourth film in the Jerry Cotton series.Blake, Deal, p.20f


Plot

A truck delivering nitroglycerin is turned away from a mining area when an accident occurs. Two criminals, Lew Hutton and Fat Krusky, are waiting at a local diner to steal the truck, believing it to be empty. Hutton pulls over because the truck is driving sluggishly, and when the find the canisters of nitroglycerin, Krusky runs off. Later, Hutton uses the truck in Manhattan for a bogus accident which is a cover for a jewelry store robbery, committed by his accomplice, Maureen. The NYPD cordons off the area because of the warning notices on the truck, but when the head of the chemical company that owns the truck, Dr. Smeat, arrives, they discover the 20 canisters of nitroglycerin have been removed. The NYPD decides to call in the FBI. Jerry Cotton is called assigned to the case, but suggests to the department chief, Mr. High, that Phil Decker be placed in charge of the investigation. They are told by Dr. Smeat that the nitroglycerin must be kept cool, and that it's packed in ice, but they only have about 30 hours before it becomes unstable. The gangster Larry Link hears about the robbery and has Krusky tortured, but without getting any information. Maureen appears at Link's headquarters and offers to help him find the nitroglycerin for payment. Maureen tells Link that Hutton got his information about where to hijack the truck from Dr. Smeat's secretary, Ruth Warren. Link sends his goons to Ruth's apartment to find out where Hutton is hiding. Cotton and Decker discover the connection between Warren and Hutton, and go to interview Warren. They find her being held by Link's men, and a fight ensues. Freed, Warren tells Cotton and Decker where to find Hutton: at his mother's pinball arcade. Cotton promises Hutton protection from Link if he surrenders the canisters. Hutton agrees but Link and his men are already at the hiding place, and Cotton is knocked out. When Cotton comes to, Hutton is dead and Link is in possession of the nitroglycerin. Link then informs the FBI he wants one million dollars for the canisters, otherwise he will let one of them explode somewhere in Manhattan. He calls a NYC newspaper with the information about the missing nitroglycerin to put pressure on the government and embarrass the FBI. This causes a panic in Manhattan. Cotton trails one of Link's henchmen and discovers they have one of the canisters hanging from The Manhattan Bridge. He manages to stop the goon from setting off the nitroglycerin. Dr. Smeat shows up to help cool down the canister. Link decides to kidnap Dr. Smeat to pressure the FBI further. The FBI decides to pay the ransom as a trap. A briefcase containing the money is handed over to Maureen, who escapes in a taxi. She takes the money to Link's accomplices, while Link stays with the canisters and maintains contact over the radio. Link hears radio interference and has his men search the briefcase. When they find the tracking device, Cotton and Decker bust in. Link hears this over his radio and decides to set off the nitroglycerin, but Dr. Smeat yells their location (the Pennsylvania Express) over the radio to Cotton before Link can knock Dr. Smeat out. Cotton races to the railway and is able to kill Link before time is up. The FBI countdown clock stops at 0:07 minutes before the canisters get too warm. Jerry is granted a well-deserved vacation, but his boss has him called out over the airport's PA system because of another urgent case.


Cast

*
George Nader George Garfield Nader, Jr. (October 19, 1921 – February 4, 2002) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 to 1974, mainly action and adventure film roles. He won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the ...
as Jerry Cotton * Horst Frank as Larry Link *
Heinz Weiss Heinz Weiss (12 June 192120 November 2010) was a German film actor. Weiss is best known for playing the role of Phil Decker in the Jerry Cotton series of films and the role of Captain Heinz Hansen in ''Das Traumschiff''. He also played the char ...
as Phil Decker * Richard Münch as Mr. High * Dominique Wilms as Maureen * Allen Pinson as Harry * Alexander Allerson as Husky * Monika Grimm as Ruth Warren *
Helga Schlack Helga (derived from Old Norse ''heilagr'' - "holy", "blessed") is a female name, used mainly in Scandinavia, German-speaking countries and the Low Countries (''Hege'', ''Helle'', ''Helge'', ''Helga'', ''Helka'' or ''Oili''). The name was in use i ...
as Helen Culver * Ricky Cooper as Pal * Werner Abrolat as Krot


Bibliography

*


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Trap Snaps Shut at Midnight 1966 films West German films German sequel films German crime thriller films 1960s crime thriller films 1960s German-language films Films directed by Harald Philipp Foreign films set in the United States German black-and-white films Films based on crime novels Films based on German novels Constantin Film films 1960s German films Films scored by Peter Thomas (composer)